What Does My GAF Score Mean?
GAF stands for Global Assessment of Functioning. It’s a test developed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It measures your ability to perform various tasks within a work environment such as operating machinery, working with tools, following instructions, controlling dangerous equipment or performing other manual labor.
The test consists of three parts:
Part A – General Physical Abilities Test (gPTT) Part B – Mental Status Screening Test (MSST) Part C – Neuropsychological Battery (NBB)
You are given a number between 0 and 30 which indicates how well you do on each part of the test. Your score is then compared to those of similar individuals from around the world. If your score falls into one of these ranges, it means that you have some degree of physical or mental impairment and need special attention. You may qualify for benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare if you meet certain criteria.
How is the GAF test score used?
The GAF score can be used in different ways by those involved in the process, such as your doctor, your psychologist or yourself. Each person’s way of using the test score may differ from another’s.
For the doctor
This test is used to help identify whether you have a mental illness and its extent. Your doctor is then able to prescribe the most suitable medication and therapy for your condition.
For the psychologist
Your score on the test is used by your psychologist to help determine whether you are mentally fit to work or not. If your results show that you are not mentally stable, you may be able to claim for disability benefits.
For yourself
You can use your own test scores to track any changes that may have occurred in your condition.
What is the GAF test for mental illness?
The GAF test for mental illness is a scale developed by the U.S. Department of Labor to measure your ability to carry out every-day tasks and work-related activities. It measures your general behavior, functioning and also takes into consideration your psychiatric state at the time of testing.
Experts use this scale to assess your condition and provide you with treatment options. It is not designed to measure the seriousness of a condition, but rather to measure your ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
The test consists of a number of questions that help the psychologist evaluate your condition from 0 to 100. A total score between 0 and 30 generally means that you suffer from severe impairment and need extensive assistance to perform your day-to-day activities. A total score between 30 and 40 usually means that you have moderate impairment and may need some help to perform your activities. A total score between 40 and 50 generally means that you suffer from mild to moderate problems that may require some assistance at times. A total score between 50 and 70 generally means that you have mild symptoms that may not always affect your ability to work or carry out tasks on a day-to-day basis.
A total score between 70 and 90 generally means that you suffer from mild symptoms that rarely affect your ability to carry out day-to-day activities. A total score above 90 means that you suffer from no or very few symptoms at all.
What are the different GAF test score ranges?
The GAF test score ranges vary between different experts. The score ranges used by the U.S. Department of Labor are different from those used by other organizations, such as the American Psychiatric Association.
U.S. Department of Labor Score Ranges
0-30: Severe symptoms that may impair functioning in most areas. May require substantial supervision and assistance.
31-60: Some moderate symptoms that may need some help to get by in everyday situations.
61-70: Moderately severe symptoms that may need constant assistance and supervision to get by in most situations. May need help to perform some work-related tasks.
71-80: Significant symptoms such as severe anxiety, withdrawal and poor thought processes. Difficulty coping with day-to-day issues. Will require assistance with personal care. Cannot carry out any work-related duties.
81-90: Needs considerable supervision to get around independently in everyday situations. Will require assistance with personal care and may be able to carry out only simple work-related tasks.
91-100: In addition to needing help with personal care and performing simple work-related duties, the person may need constant supervision.
American Psychiatric Association Score Ranges
0: No symptoms at all
1: Symptom is not present
2: Symptoms are transient and expectable reactions to common stressors (e.g. Bereavement)
3: Symptoms still cause some impairment in social or occupational functioning, but this is minimal
4: Symptoms that impair social or occupational functioning, but the person is still able to carry out basic work requirements
5: Some mild impairment, but can still work and maintain self-care
6: Moderate symptoms that need constant supervision
7: Moderately severe symptoms that significantly impair functioning (e.g. Severe anxiety or depression)
8: Severe symptoms that require constant care
9: Severe symptoms that significantly impact on a person’s basic identity
10: The most severe symptoms that are incapacitating(e.g. Psychotic behavior or hearing voices)
What do the GAF test scores mean?
You can calculate your GAF test scores according to the instructions provided by your psychologist. However, the interpretation of these scores can be a little more complicated than for some other psychological tests. First of all, it is important to note that different organizations use different score ranges with varying definitions.
In general, a GAF test score of between 40 and 60 is considered a sign of serious psychological distress requiring immediate intervention. GAF test scores over 60 indicate a less serious condition.
Someone who scores between 70 and 80 is experiencing mild to moderate symptoms that are still affecting their ability to function day-to-day. Finally, individuals who score above 80 on the GAF scale are unlikely to experience any real impairment in their day-to-day lives.
How is the GAF test scored?
A professional psychologist interprets GAF test results according to scales set out by the American Psychiatric Association, the U.S. Department of Labor and other medical bodies.
Your GAF result is typically a score out of 100, with 100 indicating that you show no apparent symptoms of mental distress. A lower score indicates the presence and severity of symptoms.
There are four subsections:
A. Degree of interference with primary role
B. Severity of symptoms
C. Age of patient
D. Ratio of functioning to not functioning (residual/retained abilities)
Your score for each subsection is added up to give you a total GAF score, which can be between 1 and 200, although some organizations use between 1 and 100.
For a thorough assessment of your symptoms, your psychologist will want to take into account many different factors. This includes your age, whether you’re able to carry out your day-to-day activities independently and whether you experience hallucinations or have suicidal thoughts.
When reporting your GAF score, your psychologist will specify which factors they took into account when calculating it so that the results can be fully understood. It is not uncommon for a GAF assessment to take more than one session, especially if you suffer from severe symptoms of mental illness.
Are there different scores?
Yes. There are a few slight variations in how the test is scored, although the factors considered remain the same.
The most common variation in the GAF test scoring method was developed by the American Psychiatric Association in 1968 and is still used today.
The World Health Organization’s version of the GAF test score was introduced in 1993 and is used more frequently outside of North America. It offers a slightly different range of scores and criteria, but is essentially the same test.
Why is the GAF test so important?
The GAF test score gives healthcare professionals a standardized way to assess your symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment plan for you. It can be used alongside other diagnostic tools such as the Beck Depression Inventory and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory to help make an accurate diagnosis.
A high GAF score can indicate that you suffer from a mental illness or behavioral condition, while a low score could suggest that you’re in good mental health. Healthcare professionals can use the test to monitor your treatment plan and see whether it’s effective in helping you manage your condition.
What does my GAF score mean?
There is no “right” or “wrong” when it comes to your GAF score, and there is no specific score that automatically classifies you as mentally ill. A high score could mean that you’re suffering from an illness such as depression, while a low score could mean that you’re in good mental health.
A GAF score of more than 60 is considered to be in the “normal” or “healthy” range, but this can vary depending on which factors your assessor took into account. Each person is different and a GAF test cannot encompass all possible human behavior, which is why other diagnostic tools are sometimes used in conjunction with it.
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Is atypical depression a moderate severity depression? A 536-case study. by F Benazzi – Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 1999 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF): properties and frontier of current knowledge by IHM Aas – Annals of general psychiatry, 2010 – Springer
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