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Are GAF scores reliable in routine clinical use?
Author(s) -
Vatnaland T.,
Vatnaland J.,
Friis S.,
Opjordsmoen S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00925.x
Subject(s) - global assessment of functioning , intraclass correlation , reliability (semiconductor) , inter rater reliability , context (archaeology) , scale (ratio) , psychology , test (biology) , physical therapy , psychometrics , medicine , clinical psychology , rating scale , psychiatry , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , developmental psychology , power (physics) , physics , paleontology , quantum mechanics , biology
Objective: The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale has been considered as a reliable tool. However, most studies of GAF reliability have been based on special conditions, such as prior training and test awareness. This study takes a different approach investigating inter‐rater reliability of GAF scores in a routine clinical context. Method: Eighty‐two consecutively admitted acute psychiatric patients were rated according to routine department procedures and by two researchers at admission and discharge. Intraclass correlations (ICC) were computed using two‐way mixed models. Results: Inter‐rater reliability between routine scores and research scores were low (ICC coefficients between r = 0.39 and 0.59). Inter‐rater reliability between the two researchers were excellent (ICC coefficients r = 0.81 and 0.85). Conclusion: Inter‐rater reliability of GAF scores in a routine clinical context seems to be insufficient.