Alcohol dependence signals

CAGE is a 1984 acronym — Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener — and still the most-used four-question screen for alcohol dependence. The questions ask about patterns, not any single occasion. Scoring happens on your device.

CAGE was published by Ewing in JAMA in 1984; the letters stand for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty and Eye-opener — the psychological and behavioral signatures of dependence rather than sheer quantity.

Each yes scores one; 2 or more is the standard clinical cutoff, with detection power rising from there. It is fast and robust, but cannot spot risky-but-not-dependent drinking — that is what the AUDIT family covers.

A positive result is a signal to talk to a doctor, not a diagnosis. Alcohol use disorder involves tolerance, withdrawal and loss of control, all weighed clinically.

Source: CAGE · Ewing (1984) · Classic published screening instrument; widely used clinically · Original source

Please answer the following four questions honestly.

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning (an eye-opener) to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?