Original article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2007;10(1):18-23.

정신분열병과 동반된 알코올 사용장애에 대한 CAGE 알코올 선별검사의 진단적 타당도

Jin Hun Kim, MD1, So Jeong Son, MD2, Suna Che, MD1, Sun Hee Park, MD3, Tae Kyoung Lee, MD, PhD3 and Daeho Kim, MD, PhD4

Abstract

Objectives:High prevalence of alcohol use disorder in schizophrenic patients demands a brief and useful screening instrument easily administered by clinicians. This study aimed to verify the sensitivity and specificity of the CAGE alcohol screening questionnaire for screening alcohol use disorder in individuals with schizophrenia.
Methods:One hundred seventeen schizophrenic patients completed the CAGE and received a diagnostic interview for the DSMIV- TR diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. The sensitivity/specificity and an appropriate cutoff value of the CAGE questionnaire were calculated.
Results:With a cutoff 1 or more, the sensitivity of the CAGE questionnaire was 93.55% and the specificity was 81.40%. However, the CAGE questionnaire had low sensitivity (70.97%) at traditional cut points (2 or more).
Conclusion:These findings partly supported the diagnostic validity of the CAGE in subjects with schizophrenia. We suggest the cutoff score of 1, in relation to sensitivity and area under the ROC curve, for schizophrenic patients compared to 2 in the general population. We suggest that the appropriate usage of CAGE questionnaire in clinical practice is useful to identify alcohol problems among patient with schizophrenia.(Korean J Schizophr Res 2007;10:18-23)

Key Words: CAGE,Schizophrenia,Alcoholism,Sensitivity,Specificity,Cutoff score.