CAGE (CAG)

The CAGE is a brief, 4-item questionnaire used for the routine and rapid screening of alcohol problems. The term “CAGE” is an acronym with each letter representing one of the four items in the measure (Feeling the need to Cutdown, Becoming Annoyed at criticism, Feeling Guilty, Needing a drink first thing in the morning to get going, Eye-Opener).

---

Item Coding

The CAG consists of 4 questions, to which participants answer either yes or no.

---

Scoring

Item responses on the CAGE are scored 0 or 1. A higher score is an indication of alcohol problems. A total score of 2 or greater is considered clinically significant.

---

Resource Files

• Questionnaire
• CIDA Item file
• CIDA Scoring file
• SPSS Scoring Syntax file

---

References

• Mayfield, D.; McLeod, G.; and Hall, P. (1974). The CAGE questionnaire: Validation of a new alcoholism instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131,1121-1123.

• Heck, Edward J., Lichtenberg, James W. (1990). Validity of the CAGE in Screening for Problem Drinking in College Students. Journal of College Student Development, 31, 359-364.

---

Created by Jacky Diaz

Updated on 10-29-01