Alcohol history
From Ganfyd
The CAGE questionnaire is a screening tool used in general settings.
Have you thought about Cutting down on your drinking?
Do you feel Angry or annoyed when asked about your drinking?
Do you ever feel Guilty about your drinking?
Have you ever begun your day with an Eye opener?
A full history of alcohol dependence enquires about:
- Current consumption, including drink type and quantity. This should then be used to calculate the exact number of alcohol units consumed per week.
- Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Does the patient get hangovers?
- Pattern of drinking, including when it starts and how the day's drinking ends.
- Date of first ever drink, and how alcohol consumption has progressed from then.
- Length of time drinking habit has been established, and any periods of abstinence.
- Complications of drinking under the categories of physical (accidents, alcohol-related illness), social (forensic, relationship problems, work issues), psychological (primacy of drinking behaviour, associated harmful behaviours).
- Co-morbid substance dependence.
- Co-morbid mental health problems, e.g. depression, anxiety.
- Family history of alcohol-related problems or full-blown alcohol dependence.
For a more easily acquired history of harmful drinking, ask about
- Quantity
- Frequency (a day off per week is A Good Thing)
- Binges
- Consequences
This article is a work in progress. Please feel free to contribute to it.
