Delirium tremens screening

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Zehra Malik, M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Screening tools include the

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a simple ten-question test developed by the World Health Organization to determine if a person’s alcohol consumption may be harmful^[1].
- Questions 1-3 deal with alcohol consumption
- Questions 4-6 relate to alcohol dependence and
- Questions 7-10 consider alcohol-related problems.
- A score of 8 or more in men (7 in women) indicates a strong likelihood of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption.
- A score of 13 or more is suggestive of alcohol related harm.

and the CAGE screening test.
Revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) is the most appropriate tool to evaluate alcohol withdrawal severity^[2]^[3].
- It includes a 10-item questionnaire
- 8 points or lower indicates mild withdrawal
- 9 to 15 points towards moderate withdrawal
- 15 or higher means the patient suffers from severe withdrawal symptoms and is at a higher risk for seizures and Delirium tremens.