Table 2.

Instruments for the Assessment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome.

Clinical institute withdrawal assessment scale – revised (CIWA-AR)	Alcohol withdrawal scale (AWS)
Nine items scored on a scale ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 7 (most severe symptoms) Nausea or vomiting Tremor Paroxysmal sweats Anxiety Tactile disturbances (itching, numbness, sensation of bugs crawling on or under the skin) Auditory disturbances (sensitivity to sound, hearing things that are not there) Visual disturbances (sensitivity to brightness and color, seeing things that are not there) Headache, sensation of a band around the head Agitation	Somatic symptoms: Severity rating 0–3 Pulse rate (per min) Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) Temperature (°C) Breathing rate (per min) Sweating Tremor
	Mental symptoms: Severity rating 0–4 Agitation Contact Orientation (time, place. person, situation) Hallucinations (optical, acoustic and tactile Anxiety
One item scored on a scale ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (disoriented with respect to place or person) Orientation and clouding of sensorium	Total score is the combination of somatic and mental symptoms
Interpretation <8: Mild Withdrawal 8–15: Moderate withdrawal >15: Severe withdrawal	Interpretation ≤5: Mild withdrawal 6–9: Moderate withdrawal ≥: Severe withdrawal

For detail description of these instruments, please see:

Sullivan JT, Sykora K, Schneiderman J, Naranjo CA, Sellers EM. Assessment of alcohol withdrawal: the revised clinical institute withdrawal assessment for alcohol scale (CIWA-Ar). Br J Addict. 1989;84:1353–7.

Wetterling T, Kanitz RD, Besters B, Fischer D, Zerfass B, John U, et al. A new rating scale for the assessment of the alcohol-withdrawal syndrome (AWS scale). Alcohol Alcohol. 1997;32:753–60.