CAGE questionnaire for alcohol dependence

The CAGE questionnaire is used to test for alcohol abuse and dependence in adults. It is not used to diagnose the disease but only to indicate whether a problem might exist.

The CAGE questionnaire consists of four questions that relate to your use of alcohol:¹

• Have you ever felt that you ought to Cut down on your drinking?
• Do you get Annoyed by criticism of your drinking?
• Do you ever feel Guilty about your drinking?
• Do you ever take an Early-morning drink (eye-opener) to get the day started or to get rid of a hangover ("a little hair of the dog that bit you")?

If you answer "yes," "sometimes," or "often" to 2 or more of the questions, you might have a problem with alcohol. If you think you or someone you care about has an alcohol use problem, talk with a health professional. Further evaluation by a trained alcohol abuse counselor might be needed.

Citations

1. Saitz R, et al. (2003). Addressing alcohol problems in primary care: A cluster randomized, controlled trial of a systems intervention. Annals of Internal Medicine, 138: 372–382.