[Diagnosis of ethanol dependence using the CAGE and SAAST questionnaire in selected therapeutic populations]

An diagnosing of ethanol dependence, despite of clear ICD 10 criteria, in patients treated particularly at the toxicological and detoxication wards, but also in other hospital wards is still a difficult task. Several questionnaires have been developed for easier detection of symptoms, the way of drinking and also for economic, family and medical effects of ethanol drinking in examined patients. A high sensitivity and specificity of CAGE and SAAST questionnaires allowing to identify problem drinkers or alcohol dependence in 192 patients of Kraków Department of Toxicology and 475 patients of Detoxification Unit was stated in the study. The CAGE questionnaire has allowed to identify the possibly ethanol dependence in group of 74 patients hospitalized at the Ward of Internal Diseases and Dialysis of Town Hospital in Sieradz, because of illness, that were not connected with alcohol drinking.