| Since the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) was introduced in the revised third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) in 1987 (American Psychiatric Association), its use in clinical settings has grown considerably. However, there is little research on the reliability and validity of the scale. Thirty-six psychologists with experience administering the GAF scored one high-information and one low-information vignette according to two methods of determining the GAF score. Method A consisted of the traditional paper-and-pencil version in which the rater determines the client's GAF score based on the individual's psychological, social, and occupational functioning. Method B consisted of a computer-assisted GAF (First & Multi-Health Systems Staff, 1997), in which assessment questions related to psychological, social, and occupational functioning are presented to the clinician in a yes/no format. Results indicated that both methods of GAF administration could be scored reliably by raters. Consistent with predictions, the results revealed a significant interaction between method and information level. Specifically, in the high information condition, the computer-assisted method resulted in scores closer to "gold standards" determined by expert diagnosticians relative to the paper-and-pencil method. These findings are promising with respect to the clinical utility of the computer-assisted GAF procedure. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed. |
