Alcohol misuse in patients attending a genitourinary clinic

Two hundred male and 200 female attenders at a genitourinary clinic were studied to determine the prevalence of alcohol misuse. The CAGE Questionnaire was used to estimate the presence of probable alcohol misuse, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to assess psychiatric morbidity. Over 18% of men and over 12% of women were found to be alcohol misusers as measured by the CAGE Questionnaire. Their characteristics are reported, and the implications of the findings considered.