The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale is a clinician rated tool used to assess overall psychological, social, and occupational functioning. It places individuals along a continuum ranging from severe impairment to superior functioning, offering a single numerical estimate of how well a person is coping with the demands of daily life. While it does not include impairments caused by physical or environmental limitations, it helps clinicians summarize mental health related functioning in a clear and structured way.
This resource page describes how the GAF works, how scores correspond to different levels of functioning, and why clinicians may use it to support assessment and treatment planning. By assigning a score from 1 to 100 based on observed functioning and symptom severity, the GAF provides a global impression that complements disorder specific assessments.
A downloadable PDF of the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale is available for clinicians using the download resource button above.
Understanding How the GAF Works
The GAF assigns a score between 1 and 100 based on the individual’s psychological, social, and occupational functioning, excluding impairments caused by physical or environmental limitations. Higher scores reflect stronger functioning or fewer symptoms, while lower scores indicate greater impairment or more severe symptoms. The uploaded scale outlines descriptive anchor points for each ten-point range. Scores of 91 to 100 indicate superior functioning with no symptoms, while scores of 81 to 90 reflect minimal symptoms and good overall functioning. Ranges continue downward to scores of 1 to 10, which reflect persistent danger of severely harming self or others, persistent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene, or a serious suicidal act with expectation of death.
Scores in the middle ranges describe varying levels of symptom severity or impairment. For example, scores of 61 to 70 reflect mild symptoms or some difficulty in social or occupational functioning, while scores of 51 to 60 indicate moderate symptoms such as flat affect, occasional panic attacks, or moderate functional impairment. Lower ranges, such as 31 to 40, indicate problems in reality testing or major impairment in several areas, and ranges from 11 to 20 reflect danger of harm to self or others, lack of hygiene, or gross communication difficulties. These anchors help clinicians assign a score that best captures the individual’s overall functional picture.
“Global measures of functioning help clinicians capture the overall impact of mental health concerns on daily life when used alongside disorder specific assessments.”
— National Institute of Mental Health
The GAF can help clinicians monitor broad changes in functioning over time, especially when symptoms affect work, relationships, or judgment. Although the GAF is not diagnostic and does not specify the cause of impairment, it provides a high level view that can guide conversations about treatment goals, needed supports, and response to care. Clinicians can refer to the downloadable resource using the download resource button above for the full scoring continuum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Functioning may be influenced by mood symptoms, anxiety, thought disturbances, stress, interpersonal conflict, and challenges with motivation or concentration. These factors can interact and affect how individuals manage daily responsibilities. Recognizing functional changes helps clinicians tailor treatment strategies.
Impaired functioning can show up through difficulty completing tasks, strained relationships, reduced productivity, or trouble managing self care or household responsibilities. These challenges may become more noticeable as symptoms intensify. Understanding these patterns supports comprehensive care planning.
Clinicians consider information from clinical interviews, patient self report, collateral history, and disorder specific scales. Evaluating functioning across multiple domains provides a fuller picture of the individual’s needs and strengths. This approach helps guide personalized treatment decisions.
Yes, many people experience improved daily functioning as they develop coping strategies, receive treatment, or gain social support. Functional gains may occur before symptoms fully resolve. Monitoring functioning helps clinicians recognize meaningful progress that may not be captured through symptom scores alone.
Treatment may include psychotherapy, skill building strategies, lifestyle changes, and medication classes such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers when appropriate. These interventions aim to reduce symptom burden and strengthen emotional, social, and occupational functioning. A personalized plan can support long term stability.
Conclusion
The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale is a practical tool that helps clinicians summarize an individual’s overall level of functioning across psychological, social, and occupational domains. By organizing functioning along a continuum from severe impairment to superior functioning, the GAF provides a consistent way to document broad clinical impressions and track changes over time.
Incorporating the GAF into routine evaluation supports conversations about treatment goals, needed supports, and response to care. It complements disorder specific assessments by offering a high level understanding of how mental health concerns affect everyday life. The downloadable resource provides the full scoring continuum using the download resource button above. The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale remains a valuable reference point in comprehensive psychiatric assessment.
The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale supports clinicians in clarifying functional impact, guiding care planning, and monitoring recovery across treatment.