CIWA-Ar
Pronunciation: SEE-wa A-R
Also written as: CIWA-Ar — Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised
A standardized assessment tool used to monitor and quantify alcohol withdrawal symptoms and guide treatment protocols.
Full Definition
The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) is a validated, 10-item assessment scale used to evaluate the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and guide appropriate medical management. The tool assesses domains including nausea/vomiting, tremor, paroxysmal sweats, anxiety, agitation, tactile disturbances, auditory disturbances, visual disturbances, headache, and orientation. Each item is scored on a scale, with total scores indicating mild, moderate, or severe withdrawal requiring different levels of intervention. The CIWA-Ar is widely used in emergency departments, medical units, and psychiatric facilities to standardize withdrawal assessment and ensure appropriate medication administration.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as compound adjective; scores should always be documented with assessment time.
In Context
- "Nursing staff completed CIWA-Ar assessments every four hours to monitor withdrawal progression." — Medical detoxification protocol
- "The patient's CIWA-Ar score of 15 indicated moderate withdrawal requiring scheduled benzodiazepine administration." — Clinical assessment note