A positive CAGE screen is defined as a score greater than what?

A positive CAGE screen is defined as a score greater than what?

• A. Greater than 2
• B. Greater than 1
• C. Greater than 3
• D. Equal to 3

Answer: (A)

The CAGE tool uses four yes/no questions, each affirmative answer adds 1 point, giving a possible score of 0 to 4. A higher total suggests a greater likelihood of alcohol misuse and prompts a fuller evaluation. In this item, a positive screen is defined as a score greater than 2, meaning a score of 3 or 4. This stricter threshold reduces false positives while still flagging individuals with a higher concern for problematic drinking. (Note: many guidelines cite 2 or more as positive, but this question uses the >2 threshold.) When the screen is positive, follow with a more detailed assessment for alcohol use disorder and appropriate further testing.

The CAGE tool uses four yes/no questions, each affirmative answer adds 1 point, giving a possible score of 0 to 4. A higher total suggests a greater likelihood of alcohol misuse and prompts a fuller evaluation. In this item, a positive screen is defined as a score greater than 2, meaning a score of 3 or 4. This stricter threshold reduces false positives while still flagging individuals with a higher concern for problematic drinking. (Note: many guidelines cite 2 or more as positive, but this question uses the >2 threshold.) When the screen is positive, follow with a more detailed assessment for alcohol use disorder and appropriate further testing.