GAF score
Also written as: GAF — Global Assessment of Functioning
A numeric scale used to assess psychological, social, and occupational functioning in adolescent mental health evaluations.
Full Definition
The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score is a clinician-rated scale from 1-100 that evaluates an individual's overall level of psychological, social, and occupational functioning. In adolescent mental health settings, GAF scores help quantify functional impairment related to psychiatric symptoms and track treatment progress over time. Scores consider academic performance, peer relationships, family functioning, and daily living skills appropriate for the adolescent's developmental stage. While the GAF has been replaced by newer assessment tools in some settings, it remains commonly referenced in adolescent psychiatric evaluations and treatment planning.
Usage
Usage note: Always include the numeric score range when documenting GAF assessments.
In Context
- "The patient's GAF score of 45 indicated serious impairment in social and academic functioning." — Psychiatric evaluation
- "Improvement in GAF score from 35 to 65 demonstrated significant functional gains following treatment." — Treatment progress note