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Psychiatry Addiction Medicine Beginner
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Alcohol Use Disorder Screening

C
A
G
E
A 4-question screening tool with high sensitivity for detecting problematic alcohol use or dependence in outpatient settings.

The CAGE questionnaire is an internationally validated screening device. A score of 2 or more positive responses strongly suggests clinically significant alcohol misuse and warrants a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.

Systematic Breakdown

C

Cut down

Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?

A

Annoyed

Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

G

Guilty

Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?

E

Eye-opener

Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?

High-Yield Clinical Pearls & Exam Tips
  • A score of >= 2 has a sensitivity of ~93% and specificity of ~76% for alcohol dependence.
  • The 'Eye-opener' question is the single most predictive item for severe physiological alcohol withdrawal risk.
Related Pharmaceuticals
Naltrexone Acamprosate Disulfiram Chlordiazepoxide
Related Clinical Conditions
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Wernicke Encephalopathy Cirrhosis
Authoritative Sources: DSM-5-TR · Ewing JA. Detecting alcoholism: The CAGE questionnaire. JAMA. 1984

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