GAF
Pronunciation: spelled out: G-A-F
Also written as: GAF — Global Assessment of Functioning
Global Assessment of Functioning; a 100-point clinician-rated scale formerly used in DSM-IV to measure an individual's overall psychological, social, and occupational functioning.
Full Definition
The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale was the primary Axis V measure in DSM-IV, allowing clinicians to rate a client's overall level of functioning on a single numeric scale from 1 (persistent danger) to 100 (superior functioning). Although it was removed from DSM-5 and replaced by the WHODAS 2.0, GAF scores remain prevalent in older clinical records, Medicaid billing documentation, insurance authorization requests, and some state mental health reporting systems. Editors reviewing community psychiatry documents must recognize the acronym and its numerical context. It should always be rendered in all capitals without periods.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalise all letters. Editors should flag its use in contemporary clinical documents and note that DSM-5 recommends WHODAS 2.0 instead. Context (billing vs. clinical) determines whether it is anachronistic.
In Context
- "The intake note recorded a GAF score of 45, indicating serious symptoms." — Community mental health intake document
- "Payers still request a GAF score on prior authorization forms despite its removal from DSM-5." — Billing and authorization documentation