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Screening for Alcohol Problems
K. Patricia McGann, MD, MSPH
Arch Fam Med. 1997;6(5):484-485.
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
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ALCOHOL IS the most commonly used drug in the United States. The majority of Americans consume alcohol moderately and do not experience adverse consequences from its use, but substantial proportions of men and women experience problems with alcohol from youth to advanced age. Alcohol use, abuse, and dependency affect patients' health in a variety of ways and can profoundly confuse medical diagnosis and treatment. With a problem of such magnitude, it is easy to see why physicians in all specialties are eager for a simple, inexpensive, and accurate screening test.
The CAGE questionnaire in particular has gained remarkable popularity, no doubt because it is simple, straight-forward, and easy to remember. Unfortunately, however, the questions are also quite transparent and anyone interested in obscuring the diagnosis (either consciously or unconsciously) would have no trouble doing so. This has prompted some of us to wonder if the test's usefulness could actually
. . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]
Author Affiliations
Palo Alto Medical Foundation Palo Alto, Calif and Department of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, Calif
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