Which screening test is validated for assessing alcohol abuse in the elderly?

The CAGE Screen is a well-established and validated tool for assessing alcohol abuse, specifically in the elderly population. It consists of four questions that focus on the individual's behavior and attitudes towards drinking. The acronym CAGE stands for:

• Cut down: Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?

• Annoyed: Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

• Guilty: Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?

• Eye-opener: Have you ever had a drink in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

These questions are designed to identify potential alcohol misuse by assessing the impact of drinking on a person's life rather than their consumption levels alone. The brevity and directness of the CAGE questions make it particularly suitable for elderly patients, who may be less likely to discuss their alcohol consumption openly.

Other screening tools, such as the CUT, MINE, and LIST Screens, either lack specific validation for the elderly population or do not focus explicitly on alcohol abuse, thus making the CAGE Screen the most appropriate and validated choice for this purpose.