The Global Assessment of Functioning, or GAF scale, is a numeric scale (1 through 100) used by mental health clinicians and doctors to rate the social, occupational and psychological functioning of adults. The scale is presented and described in the DSM-IV-TR on page 32. Children and adolescents under the age of 18 are evaluated on the Children’s Global Assessment Scale, or C-GAS. Please review the DSM cautionary statement for important information on the GAF scale and other DSM related diagnostic tools. Jump to: navigation, search The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and internationally. ... The Childrens Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) is a numeric scale (1 through 100) used by mental health clinicians and doctors to rate the general functioning of children under the age of 18. ... A DSM cautionary statement is required to create balance and perspective for the various diagnoses and criteria used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association. ...
91-100 Superior functioning in a wide range of activities, life's problems never seem to get out of hand, is sought out by others because of his or her many qualities. No symptoms. 90-81 Absent or minimal symptoms, good functioning in all areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, generally satisfied with life, no more than everyday problems or concerns. 80-71 If symptoms are present they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stresses; no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning. 70-61 Some mild symptoms OR some difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning, but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships. 60-51 Moderate symptoms OR any moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning. 50-41 Serious symptoms OR any serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning. 40-31 Some impairment in reality testing or communication OR major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. 30-21 Behavior is considered influenced by delusions or hallucinations OR serious impairment in communications or judgment OR inability to function in all areas. 20-11 Some danger or hurting self or others OR occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR gross impairment in communication. 10-1 Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others OR persistent inability to maintain minimum personal hygiene OR serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death.
GlobalAssessment of Functioning is for reporting the clinician's judgment of the individual's overall level of functioning and carrying out activities of daily living.
The GlobalAssessment of Functioning Scale is a 100-point scale that measures a patients overall level of psychological, social, and occupational functioning on a hypothetical continuum.
The GAF scale is particularly useful for managed care-driven diagnostic evaluations to determine eligibility for treatment and disability benefits and to delineate the level of care required for patients.
Assessment and evaluation systems that have been developed to make such predictions focus on characterizing patients in terms of both their symptoms and their level of functional impairment, assessing patients' need for treatment and providing guidelines for the allocation of services, and monitoring progress and outcomes (1,2).
GAF ratings of impairment are modestly associated with some indexes of social functioning, such as the extent of social networks and the need for support (8,25,26), and with residential instability, lack of employment, and poor work adjustment (14,27).
The GAF ratings were highly reliable, and there was some evidence of their validity, because patients with psychiatric diagnoses, psychoses, recent inpatient care, current inpatient or residential care, and more psychiatric symptoms and substance use problems were likely to be rated as being more impaired.
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