Which screening tool is commonly used in primary care to screen for alcohol use disorder?

Which screening tool is commonly used in primary care to screen for alcohol use disorder?

• A. CAGE questionnaire
• B. PHQ-9
• C. GAD-7
• D. AUDIT-C

Answer: (A)

Screening for alcohol use disorder in primary care benefits from a brief, validated questionnaire that can be completed quickly. The CAGE questionnaire does just that: four yes/no questions about cutting down, annoyance by criticism, guilt, and an eye-opening drink first thing in the morning. A positive response on one or more items flags possible alcohol misuse and signals the need for a more thorough assessment. Its brevity and ease of use in a busy clinic make it a common choice in primary care. It’s designed to identify problematic use and potential dependence, though it doesn’t quantify drinking or catch every case (especially milder ones or in certain populations). Other tools like AUDIT-C assess recent consumption and risk levels, while PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screen for depression and anxiety, not alcohol use. For these reasons, the CAGE questionnaire is the classic, efficient option frequently used to screen for alcohol use disorder.

Screening for alcohol use disorder in primary care benefits from a brief, validated questionnaire that can be completed quickly. The CAGE questionnaire does just that: four yes/no questions about cutting down, annoyance by criticism, guilt, and an eye-opening drink first thing in the morning. A positive response on one or more items flags possible alcohol misuse and signals the need for a more thorough assessment. Its brevity and ease of use in a busy clinic make it a common choice in primary care. It’s designed to identify problematic use and potential dependence, though it doesn’t quantify drinking or catch every case (especially milder ones or in certain populations). Other tools like AUDIT-C assess recent consumption and risk levels, while PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screen for depression and anxiety, not alcohol use. For these reasons, the CAGE questionnaire is the classic, efficient option frequently used to screen for alcohol use disorder.