What is the primary focus of the CAGE questionnaire?

• A. Current drinking patterns.
• B. Alcohol-related legal problems.
• C. Medical complications of drinking.
• D. Lifetime problems with drinking.

Answer: (D)

The CAGE questionnaire is a quick screening tool designed to pick up problems with alcohol use based on a person’s lifetime experiences and consequences, not just how they drink right now. The four questions ask about past issues: feeling the need to cut down, people criticizing drinking, feeling guilty about drinking, and needing an “eye-opener” in the morning. These items target whether alcohol has caused lasting problems at any point in the person’s life, which is why the primary focus is lifetime problems with drinking. It’s meant to flag possible alcohol use disorder and prompt fuller assessment, rather than measure current drinking patterns, medical complications, or legal problems.