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Figure 1: CAGE questionnaire

CAGE questionnaire - screen for alcohol misuse

Alcohol dependence is likely if the patient gives two or more positive answers to the following questions:

· Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?

· Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

· Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?

· Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?

If the person answers yes to two or more CAGE questions, you should suspect alcohol abuse and continue with a more complete substance abuse assessment. 

 

Figure 2: CIWA scale
Patient: _____________  Date: (yy/mm/dd) ____/____/____  Time: (24 hr) _________
 
Pulse or heart rate: ___________  Blood Pressure: ______________
 



Nausea and Vomiting - Ask "Do you feel sick to your stomach?" "Have you vomited?" Observation.

    * 0 - no nausea and no vomiting
    * 1 - mild nausea with no vomiting
    * 2
    * 3
    * 4 - intermittent nausea with dry heaves
    * 5
    * 6
    * 7 - constant nausea, frequent dry heaves and vomiting.


Tactile Disturbances - Ask "Have you any itching, pins and needles sensations, any burning, any numbness, or do you feel bugs crawling on or under your skin? Observation.

  • 0 - none
  • 1 - very mild itching, pins and needles, burning or numbness
  • 2 - mild itching, pins and needles, burning or numbness
  • 3 - moderate itching, pins and needles, burning or numbness
  • 4 - moderately sever hallucinations
  • 5 - severe hallucinations
  • 6 - extremely severe hallucinations
7 - continuous hallucinations


Tremor - Arms extended and fingers spread apart. Observation.

    * 0 - no tremor
    * 1 - not visible, but can be felt fingertip to fingertip
    * 2
    * 3
    * 4 - moderate, with patient's arms extended
    * 5
    * 6
    * 7 - severe, even with arms not extended


Auditory Disturbances - Ask "Are you more aware of sounds around you? Are they harsh? Do they frighten you? Are you hearing anything that is disturbing to you? Are you hearing things that you know aren't there?" Observation.

    * 0 - not present
    * 1 - very mild harshness or ability to frighten
    * 2 - mild harshness or ability to frighten
    * 3 - moderate harshness or ability to frighten
    * 4 - moderately severe hallucinations
    * 5 - severe hallucinations
    * 6 - extremely severe hallucinations
    * 7 - continuous hallucinations


Paroxysmal Sweats - Observation.

    * 0 - no sweat visible
    * 1 - barely perceptible sweating, palms moist
    * 2
    * 3
    * 4 - beads of sweat obvious on forehead
    * 5
    * 6
    * 7 - drenching sweats


Visual Disturbances - Ask “Does the light appear to be too bright? Is its color different? Does it hurt your eyes? Are you seeing anything that is disturbing you? Are you seeing things that you know aren't there?" Observation.

    * 0 - not present
    * 1 - very mild sensitivity
    * 2 - mild sensitivity
    * 3 - moderate sensitivity
    * 4 - moderately severe hallucinations
    * 5 - severe hallucinations
    * 6 - extremely sever hallucinations
    * 7 - continuous hallucinations




 

Anxiety - Ask "Do you feel nervous?" Observation.

    * 0 - no anxiety, at ease
    * 1 - mildly anxious
    * 2
    * 3
    * 4 - moderately anxious, or guarded, so anxiety is inferred
    * 5
    * 6
    * 7 - equivalent to acute panic states as seen in severe delirium or acute schizophrenic reactions

Headache, Fullness in Head - Ask "Does your head feel different? Does it feel like there is a band around your head?" Do not rate dizziness or lightheadedness. Otherwise, rate severity.

    * 0 - not present
    * 1 - very mild
    * 2 - mild
    * 3 - moderate
    * 4 - moderately severe
    * 5 - severe
    * 6 - very severe
    * 7 - extremely severe

Agitation - Observation.

    * 0 - normal activity
    * 1 - somewhat more than normal activity
    * 2
    * 3
    * 4 - moderately fidgety and restless
    * 5
    * 6
    * 7 - paces back and forth during most of the interview, or constantly thrashes about.

 Orientation and Clouding of Sensorium - Ask "What day is this? Where are you? Who am I?

    * oriented and can do serial additions
    * cannot do serial additions or is certain about date
    * disoriented for date by no more than two calendar days
    * disoriented for date by more than two calendar days
    * disoriented for place and/or person

 

Patients scoring less than 10 do not usually need additional medication for withdrawal.  

Total CIWA-A Score _____

Rater's Initials _____

Maximum Possible Score - 67


 
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