KEEP IT SIMPLE –
Dec. 28, 2024 – The study examined 17 individuals who had been asked these two questions by their doctors. The results showed that asking about the frequency of drinking six or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting identified alcoholism with 54% accuracy. … However, when the second question was added — asking if someone has ever consumed alcohol first thing in the morning to steady their nerves — the accuracy of the diagnosis increased to 87%. This question, part of the CAGE test used to detect alcohol use disorder in adults, is particularly effective in revealing significant dependence.
Gloria Sánchez Antolín, head of the Hepatology Unit at Río Ortega Hospital in Valladolid, agrees that these two questions are highly effective. “Because they’re open, they ensure that the patient does not feel judged and can be referred from primary care to hepatologists and mental health experts,” she explains.
