What CIWA-Ar score might indicate a moderate to severe withdrawal?

A CIWA-Ar score of 15 or higher typically indicates moderate to severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale (CIWA-Ar) is a standardized tool used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal, allowing healthcare professionals to determine the appropriate intervention and monitoring required for patients.

Scores on the CIWA-Ar range from 0 to 67, with higher scores correlating with more severe withdrawal symptoms. A score of 15 or above generally suggests that the patient may be experiencing significant distress and a risk of complications, necessitating close monitoring and potentially medication management to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and prevent progression to more severe conditions, such as delirium tremens.

In contrast, lower scores indicate milder symptoms, suggesting that patients may require less intensive monitoring and therapy. Thus, recognizing a score of 15 or higher is crucial for timely and appropriate clinical response.