Noosha Niv1, Amy N Cohen, Greer Sullivan, Alexander S Young. 1. Veterans Affairs Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, West Los Angeles VA, 11301 Wilshire Blvd. (210A), Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. noosha23@yahoo.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the reliability and convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of the Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) version of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. The MIRECC GAF measures occupational functioning, social functioning, and symptom severity on three subscales. METHODS: MIRECC GAF ratings were obtained for 398 individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were receiving treatment at three Veterans Affairs mental health clinics. Assessments were completed by using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Quality of Life Interview at baseline and nine months later. RESULTS: All three MIRECC GAF subscales exhibited very high levels of reliability. The occupational and symptom subscales showed good convergent and discriminant validity. The social subscale was related to measures of social functioning and, to a greater degree, symptom severity. The occupational and social subscales significantly predicted their respective domains at the nine-month follow-up. The symptom subscale predicted negative symptoms at follow-up; however, it did not predict positive symptoms or cognitive disorientation. Instead, the social subscale was predictive of cognitive disorientation at follow-up. When the standard GAF was routinely administered by clinicians, scores demonstrated little validity. CONCLUSIONS: The three MIRECC GAF subscales can be scored reliably, and they have good concurrent and predictive validity. Further work is needed on brief measures of patient functioning, especially measures of social functioning.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the reliability and convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of the Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) version of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. The MIRECC GAF measures occupational functioning, social functioning, and symptom severity on three subscales. METHODS: MIRECC GAF ratings were obtained for 398 individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were receiving treatment at three Veterans Affairs mental health clinics. Assessments were completed by using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Quality of Life Interview at baseline and nine months later. RESULTS: All three MIRECC GAF subscales exhibited very high levels of reliability. The occupational and symptom subscales showed good convergent and discriminant validity. The social subscale was related to measures of social functioning and, to a greater degree, symptom severity. The occupational and social subscales significantly predicted their respective domains at the nine-month follow-up. The symptom subscale predicted negative symptoms at follow-up; however, it did not predict positive symptoms or cognitive disorientation. Instead, the social subscale was predictive of cognitive disorientation at follow-up. When the standard GAF was routinely administered by clinicians, scores demonstrated little validity. CONCLUSIONS: The three MIRECC GAF subscales can be scored reliably, and they have good concurrent and predictive validity. Further work is needed on brief measures of patient functioning, especially measures of social functioning.
Authors: Leslie Marino; Ilana Nossel; Jean C Choi; Keith Nuechterlein; Yuanjia Wang; Susan Essock; Melanie Bennett; Karen McNamara; Sapna Mendon; Lisa Dixon Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Alexander S Young; Amy N Cohen; Alison B Hamilton; Gerhard Hellemann; Christopher Reist; Fiona Whelan Journal: J Behav Health Serv Res Date: 2019-01 Impact factor: 1.505
Authors: Susan V Eisen; Kathryn A Bottonari; Mark E Glickman; Avron Spiro; Mark R Schultz; Lawrence Herz; Robert Rosenheck; Ethan S Rofman Journal: J Behav Health Serv Res Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 1.505
Authors: Stephanie M Hare; Joshua Chiappelli; Anya Savransky; Bhim M Adhikari; Krista Wisner; Mark Kvarta; Eric Goldwaser; Xiaoming Du; Shuo Chen; Laura M Rowland; Peter Kochunov; L Elliot Hong Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2020 Jul/Aug Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Franco Mascayano; Els van der Ven; Gonzalo Martinez-Ales; Cale Basaraba; Nev Jones; Rufina Lee; Iruma Bello; Ilana Nossel; Stephen Smith; Thomas E Smith; Melanie Wall; Ezra Susser; Lisa B Dixon Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2020-09-16 Impact factor: 3.084