CAGE Questionnaire

This article is for Medical Professionals

This easy-to-use patient questionnaire is a screening test for
[1]
problem drinking and potential alcohol problems. The CAGE
questions should not be preceded by any questions about
alcohol intake - ie its sensitivity is dramatically enhanced by
[2]
an open-ended introduction.
CAGE Questionnaire
This is best used in a clinical setting as part of a general clinical history
taking and may be phrased informally.
No
Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking? Yes
No
Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Yes
No
Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking? Yes

Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to

No
steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (Eye Yes
opener)?
0
Total= /4
Developed by Dr. John Ewing, founding Director of the Bowles
Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, CAGE is an internationally used assessment
instrument for identifying alcoholics. The CAGE questionnaire
is reproduced here with permission. Original in Ewing
Detecting alcoholism.
The CAGE questionnaire. JAMA. 1984 Oct 12;252(14):1905-7. ©
1984 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
A total score of 2 or greater is considered clinically significant
(sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 76% for the
[3]
identification of problem drinking); compared with GGT liver
function test which detected only a third of patients having
more than 16 'drinks' per day.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a
longer screening tool recommended by the World Health
[4]
Organization.
 Did you find this information useful?yesno
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not
be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.
Patient Platform Limited has used all reasonable care in
compiling the information but make no warranty as to its
accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional
for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details
see our conditions.