A brief mental health outcome scale : the reliability and validity of the global assessment of functioning (GAF).

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A brief mental health outcome scale : the reliability and validity of the global assessment of functioning (GAF). / Jones, Steven H.; Thornicroft, G.; Coffey, M. et al.
In: British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 166, No. 5, 05.1995, p. 654-659.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Bibtex

@article{39a08120eae84af3965ae75e80156702,

title = "A brief mental health outcome scale : the reliability and validity of the global assessment of functioning (GAF).",

abstract = "BACKGROUND. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) is a quick and simple measure of overall psychological disturbance. However, there is little research on the reliability and validity of this measure in severely mentally ill populations. METHOD. Multidisciplinary keyworkers assessed 103 patients at monthly intervals over a 6-month period. Overall GAF scores were obtained, with additional separate ratings for symptoms and disability. These were compared with changes in antipsychotic medication and support needs over the same period. RESULTS. Satisfactory reliability was obtained for total GAF score and for symptom and disability measures, in spite of raters having only one brief training session. All GAF scores were associated with current support needs of patients. Symptom and disability scores were associated with changes in antipsychotic medication in the previous month. Only symptom score was associated with increases in antipsychotic medication at time of rating. CONCLUSION. GAF proved to be a reliable and, within the limits of the indicators used, a valid measure of psychiatric disturbance in our sample of the severely mentally ill. Differences in relationships between the three GAF scores and medication/support needs indicate the usefulness of obtaining all three scores for monitoring levels and type of psychiatric disturbance in this population.",

author = "Jones, {Steven H.} and G. Thornicroft and M. Coffey and G. Dunn",

year = "1995",

month = may,

language = "English",

volume = "166",

pages = "654--659",

journal = "British Journal of Psychiatry",

issn = "1472-1465",

publisher = "Royal College of Psychiatrists",

number = "5",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - A brief mental health outcome scale : the reliability and validity of the global assessment of functioning (GAF).

AU - Jones, Steven H.

AU - Thornicroft, G.

AU - Coffey, M.

AU - Dunn, G.

PY - 1995/5

Y1 - 1995/5

N2 - BACKGROUND. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) is a quick and simple measure of overall psychological disturbance. However, there is little research on the reliability and validity of this measure in severely mentally ill populations. METHOD. Multidisciplinary keyworkers assessed 103 patients at monthly intervals over a 6-month period. Overall GAF scores were obtained, with additional separate ratings for symptoms and disability. These were compared with changes in antipsychotic medication and support needs over the same period. RESULTS. Satisfactory reliability was obtained for total GAF score and for symptom and disability measures, in spite of raters having only one brief training session. All GAF scores were associated with current support needs of patients. Symptom and disability scores were associated with changes in antipsychotic medication in the previous month. Only symptom score was associated with increases in antipsychotic medication at time of rating. CONCLUSION. GAF proved to be a reliable and, within the limits of the indicators used, a valid measure of psychiatric disturbance in our sample of the severely mentally ill. Differences in relationships between the three GAF scores and medication/support needs indicate the usefulness of obtaining all three scores for monitoring levels and type of psychiatric disturbance in this population.

AB - BACKGROUND. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) is a quick and simple measure of overall psychological disturbance. However, there is little research on the reliability and validity of this measure in severely mentally ill populations. METHOD. Multidisciplinary keyworkers assessed 103 patients at monthly intervals over a 6-month period. Overall GAF scores were obtained, with additional separate ratings for symptoms and disability. These were compared with changes in antipsychotic medication and support needs over the same period. RESULTS. Satisfactory reliability was obtained for total GAF score and for symptom and disability measures, in spite of raters having only one brief training session. All GAF scores were associated with current support needs of patients. Symptom and disability scores were associated with changes in antipsychotic medication in the previous month. Only symptom score was associated with increases in antipsychotic medication at time of rating. CONCLUSION. GAF proved to be a reliable and, within the limits of the indicators used, a valid measure of psychiatric disturbance in our sample of the severely mentally ill. Differences in relationships between the three GAF scores and medication/support needs indicate the usefulness of obtaining all three scores for monitoring levels and type of psychiatric disturbance in this population.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 166

SP - 654

EP - 659

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

SN - 1472-1465

IS - 5

ER -

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