What is the CAGE questionnaire designed to screen for?

The CAGE questionnaire is specifically designed to screen for alcohol abuse. It consists of four questions that help identify potential problems related to alcohol use by assessing the behavior and experiences of individuals with alcohol. The acronym "CAGE" stands for Cutting down, Annoyance by criticism, Guilty feeling, and Eye-openers, which represent the key components targeted by the questionnaire.

The effectiveness of the CAGE questionnaire lies in its simplicity and the ability to quickly gauge the likelihood of alcohol-related issues without the need for extensive testing or interviews. It is widely used among healthcare professionals as a screening tool in various settings due to its straightforward nature and strong correlation with alcohol misuse. This specificity to alcohol distinguishes the CAGE questionnaire from other screening tools that may address different substances.