Interpreting CAGE Scores
Authors: Kathanne Bradley
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1992)

Letters15 June 1992Interpreting CAGE ScoresKathanne Bradley, MDKathanne Bradley, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-116-12-1032 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editors: Buchsbaum and colleagues (1) have provided a useful piece of research by validating the CAGE (acronym referring to Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener) in outpatients using DSM-IIIR criteria as the gold standard. They defined "problem drinkers" in the "Patients and Methods" section, but they did not present any data on the CAGE'S ability to identify these patients (1).How well does the CAGE identify the following drinkers who are at risk but who are not alcohol dependent?: 1) patients who meet DSM-IIIR criteria for alcohol abuse alone; 2) "problem drinkers" who do not meet DSM-IIIR criteria for...References1. Buchsbaum D, Buchanan R, Centor R, Schnoll S, and Lawton M. Screening for alcohol abuse using CAGE scores and likelihood ratios. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:774-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. King M. At risk drinking among general attenders: validation of the CAGE questionnaire. Psychol Med. 1986;16:213-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Saunders W, Phil M, and Kershaw P. Screening tests for alcoholism—findings from a community study. Br J Addict. 1980;75:37-41. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Wallace P, Cutler S, and Haines A. Randomized controlled trial of general practitioner intervention in patients with excessive alcohol consumption. BMJ. 1988;297:663-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Sokol R, Martier S, and Ager J. The T-ACE questions: practical prenatal detection of risk-drinking. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989;160:863-70. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. Buchsbaum D, Buchanan R, Centor R, Schnoll S, and Lawton M. Screening for alcohol abuse using CAGE scores and likelihood ratios. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:774-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Sox H, Blatt M, Higgins M, and Marlon K. Medical Decision Making. Boston: Butterworths; 1988:75-80. Google Scholar1. Buchsbaum D, Buchanan R, Centor R, Schnoll S, and Lawton M. Screening for alcohol abuse using CAGE scores and likelihood ratios. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:774-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Wallace P, Cutler S, and Haines A. Randomized controlled trial of general practitioner intervention in patients with excessive alcohol consumption. BMJ. 1988;297:663-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Sanchez-Craig M, Leigh G, Spivak K, and Lei H. Superior outcome of females over males after brief treatment for the reduction of heavy drinking. Br J Addict. 1989;84:395-404. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Dawson N, Gopal D, Speroff T, Smith R, and Schubert D. The effect of patient gender on the prevalence and recognition of alcoholism on a general medicine inpatient service. J Gen Intern Med. 1992;7:38-45. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Buchsbaum D, Buchanan R, Poses R, Lawton M, and Schnoli S. Physician detection of drinking problems in patients attending a general medicine practice. J Gen Intern Med. 1992 (In press). CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Kathanne Bradley, MD PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byAlcohol questionnaires and HDL: Screening scores as scaled markers of alcohol consumptionAlcoholic liver disease: proposed recommendations for the American College of GastroenterologyScreening for depression 15 June 1992Volume 116, Issue 12_Part_1Page: 1032-1033KeywordsAlcoholismAlcoholsOutpatients ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 15 June 1992 PDF downloadLoading ...