GAF
Also written as: GAF — Global Assessment of Functioning
Numerical scale for rating overall psychological, social, and occupational functioning.
Full Definition
The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale ranges from 1 to 100 and provides a clinician's judgment of an individual's overall level of functioning. Higher scores indicate better functioning, with scores above 70 generally indicating good functioning, 51-70 indicating mild to moderate symptoms, and lower scores indicating more severe impairment. While removed from DSM-5, the GAF is still used in some clinical settings and insurance documentation. Proper scoring requires consideration of both symptom severity and functional impairment.
Usage
Usage note: No longer included in DSM-5 but still referenced in some clinical and legal contexts.
In Context
- "The patient's GAF score improved from 45 to 65 following intensive outpatient treatment." — treatment outcome report
- "Current GAF: 50 - serious symptoms with moderate difficulty in functioning." — psychiatric evaluation