Which instrument is a brief four-question screen for alcohol use commonly used in primary care?

• A. SASSI
• B. MBTI
• C. MMPI
• D. CAGE

Answer: (D)

The key idea is recognizing a quick, four-question screen designed specifically to flag potential alcohol problems in a busy primary care setting. This tool, known by its four-item form, asks about cutting down on drinking, others’ annoyance at drinking, feeling guilty about drinking, and an eye-opener (morning drink to steady nerves). If a patient answers yes to two or more, it suggests a possible alcohol problem and signals the need for a fuller follow-up assessment.

Its strength lies in brevity and practicality: it can be administered in just a couple of minutes, helping clinicians identify individuals who may need more in-depth evaluation without delaying care. It’s important to note it’s a screening instrument, not a diagnosis, so a positive result leads to further assessment rather than a definitive label.

Other tools listed aren’t four-question screens for alcohol use: one is a broader substance-use inventory, and the others are personality tests, not alcohol-specific screening instruments.