[Performance assessment of CAGE screening test among psychiatric outpatients]

Descriptive and transversal study to evaluate the performance of CAGE among psychiatric outpatients at a tertiary-level university hospital. Convenience sample composed of patients from HCFMRP-USP (n=127). The instruments used were CAGE and the diagnostic interview based on ICD-10 criteria for harmful use and alcohol dependence. The performance of CAGE scores was evaluated through the analysis of ROC curve, using the ICD-10 clinical diagnostic as a gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity in accordance with the cut-off points are: > or =0, Sens=100%, Spec=0%; > or =1, Sens=100%, Spec=73.7%; > or =2, Sens=53.8%, Spec=87.7%; > or =3, Sens=53.8%, Spec=94.7%; > or =4, Sens=0%; Spec=100%. Score 1 showed to be the ideal critical point for sensibility/specificity. > or =1 was the best cut-off point for CAGE among psychiatric outpatients from a tertiary-level university hospital. To increase the diagnostic power of the test and the reliability of its results, its performance in the study population should be assessed.