CAGE Questionnaire Calculator

CAGE Questionnaire Calculator for Psychiatry. Review the assessment timeframe and current alcohol use separately. A score of 2 is not two drinks or a 50% probability of dependence. Discuss the clinical history and current concerns.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

This page records a completed screening total rather than administering questions. The original Ewing paper establishes the instrument identity and screening purpose. Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6471323/

When to use this calculator

Use to discuss an alcohol-problem screen while separately assessing current consumption and context. CAGE and CAGE-AID are different instruments.

Inputs used

  • Final CAGE integer total, 0-4; instrument and timeframe

Clinical interpretation

Review the assessment timeframe and current alcohol use separately. A score of 2 is not two drinks or a 50% probability of dependence. Discuss the clinical history and current concerns.

Worked example

A patient with a historical CAGE total of 2 reports no current drinking. The old total is not evidence of two drinks per day or a current diagnosis. Conversely, a total of 0 cannot replace a current consumption history.

Limitations and safety notes

The page does not claim a universal detection threshold or sensitivity for every population. It reproduces no question text and does not assess withdrawal risk.

Frequently asked questions

Can I average two CAGE totals?

Not as an individual assessment. Enter the finalized integer from one clearly identified assessment.

References

  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6471323/

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 9, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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