The concurrent validity of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)

Background: Few studies of the validity of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) have been published and none has shown how GAF ratings are associated with concurrent ratings of symptoms and social functioning. This article provides such data. Method: Patients suffering from schizophrenia were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of clinical psychology 2002-11, Vol.41 (4), p.417-422
Main Authors: Startup, Mike, Jackson, Mike C., Bendix, Sue
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical psychology
Cognitive Therapy
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Global Assessment of Functioning
Hospitalization
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Human behaviour
Humans
Male
Measures
Medical sciences
Mental health
Mental illness
Middle Aged
Observer Variation
Psychological functioning
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychoses
Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis
Psychotic Disorders - epidemiology
Psychotic Disorders - etiology
Reproducibility of Results
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - rehabilitation
Schizophrenia - therapy
Schizophrenic Psychology
Social Behavior
Social functioning
Surveys and Questionnaires
Techniques and methods
Validity
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Description
Summary:Background: Few studies of the validity of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) have been published and none has shown how GAF ratings are associated with concurrent ratings of symptoms and social functioning. This article provides such data. Method: Patients suffering from schizophrenia were assessed at admission to hospital and at six‐ and 12‐month follow‐up, using the GAF, the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Social Behaviour Schedule. Results: GAF ratings were highly correlated with ratings of symptoms and social behaviour at both follow‐ups but not at initial assessment, although the inter‐rater reliabilities for the measures were good. Conclusions: The GAF can be rated reliably after minimal training. It provides a valid summary of symptoms and social functioning among schizophrenic patients provided they are not assessed when suffering from acute psychotic episodes.
ISSN:0144-6657
2044-8260
DOI:10.1348/014466502760387533