What is the four-question screening instrument for alcohol and drug problems commonly used?

• A. AUDIT
• B. CAGE
• C. MAST
• D. SAPC

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is using a very quick screening tool to flag potential alcohol problems in a patient. The four-question screen called CAGE asks about cutting down, others’ annoyance with drinking, guilt about drinking, and a morning “eye-opener.” It’s designed to be fast, easy to administer, and to point you toward a more thorough assessment when there are two or more affirmative answers. Because it focuses on potential dependence and problematic drinking rather than just how often someone drinks, it’s widely used in busy clinical settings.

Two things to know about its usefulness: it’s excellent for a rapid check-in and often leads to further evaluation, but it isn’t perfect for every situation. Some people with hazardous or binge drinking may not endorse multiple items, and it’s not diagnostic on its own. For a broader screen of drinking behavior, clinicians might use the longer AUDIT; for a longer, more detailed look at problems or consequences, tools like MAST are used. SAPC is less commonly seen in modern practice. In this question, the four-question instrument commonly used is CAGE.