How do CAGE and AUDIT differ in scope and application?

• A. CAGE is a brief lifetime screen; AUDIT assesses recent use and consequences, and is more sensitive to current risk.
• B. CAGE assesses physical health symptoms; AUDIT covers legal problems.
• C. CAGE is for adolescents; AUDIT for adults.
• D. CAGE screens caffeine use; AUDIT screens nicotine.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how these two screening tools differ in scope and purpose. CAGE is a brief four-item screen designed to pick up potential alcohol problems, and it is shaped around lifetime patterns of drinking. It’s quick and simple, so you can use it as a fast flag for someone who might have an issue at any point in the past, rather than focusing on their current level of risk or recent drinking.

AUDIT, in contrast, is longer and structured to assess current use and its consequences. It asks about drinking in the past year, including frequency, quantity, binge episodes, and related problems, plus indicators of dependence. Because it captures recent behavior and harm, it’s more sensitive to current risk and better at identifying people who are at immediate risk or who have begun problematic patterns.

So, the correct view is that CAGE serves as a brief lifetime screen, while AUDIT evaluates recent use and consequences and is more attuned to current risk. The other descriptions mix up what each tool measures (health symptoms, legal problems, age groups, or caffeine/nicotine) and don’t fit how these instruments are actually used.