The CAGE Questionnaire: Validation of a New Alcoholism Screening Instrument

¹ Chief, Psychiatry Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, Providence, R.I. 02908, and Professor of Psychiatry, Brown University Program in Medicine, Providence

The CAGE questionnaire, a new brief alcoholism screening test, was administered to all patients (N = 366; 39 percent alcoholic) admitted to a psychiatric service over a one-year period. The authors indicate that the CAGE questionnaire is not a sensitive alcoholism detector if a four-item positive response is the criterion; however, if a two- or three-item criterion is used, it becomes a viable rapid alcoholism screening techniquefor large groups.

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