Study of problem drinking in general practice

Abstract

13.6 percent of male and 1.3 percent of female attenders screened at a London Health Centre were drinking at levels considered unsafe by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (1979) and yet revealed few indicators to alert the general practitioner, in terms of classical alcohol related disability. Males, the unemployed and those of Scottish or Irish origin were over-represented in the at risk group. A significant proportion viewed their general practitioner as a source of help. The CAGE questionnaire has been validated as a screening instrument for at risk drinking in persons attending their general practitioner. Whether used by the doctor in clinical work, where it would have definite benefit-to-cost advantages, or as a research tool in the detection and investigation of alcohol abuse, it remains a simple and brief method of detection. At a cutoff point of two or more positive replies it missed very few cases but tended to produce a percentage of false positives.