CAGE Questionnaire – CAGE
A brief screening instrument designed to detect potential alcohol abuse and dependence.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The CAGE Questionnaire – CAGE was developed by John A. Ewing (1984). It is designed to measure Alcohol dependence. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 4 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 4. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low risk of alcohol dependence: 0 – 1
- High risk of alcohol dependence: 2 – 4
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High sensitivity and specificity for detecting alcohol abuse.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 1 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.