Yep, it’s true. There is a functioning scale used by the mental health professionals to determine your scale of functioning in society. I came across it while reading about how function is deteriorating in the world at large, and specifically with our youth.
You can’t make this stuff up. Here are some of the highlights, but definitely take a moment and see if you can figure out where you stand. I figure I’m at 61 to 70 percent, which when I was in school was a D. Yikes.
Apparently stealing and shoplifting are a big part of determining how well you function. Who knew? I stole pixie stix in third grade and almost threw up from fear after I ate them. So if you shoplift once a month to feed your children, you are flunking in functioning in the Global Assessment. But if you beat your wife it doesn’t change your scale.
If you are someone who temporarily falls behind in school or work you are functioning at 71 to 80 percent. Are you kidding me? Who doesn’t ever fall behind? And if you do, you are functioning at C level? And, if you don’t ever fall behind, you just don’t have enough to do and should have a 60 percent in living your life.
I’m a wreck. I considered myself as functioning well in society with the exception of when I’m on a treadmill trying to go over four miles per hour at a level two incline. And, what happens with this information? Who finds out about it?
With all due respect, this is the exact kind of thing that gives “feelings doctors” a bad name. News flash, mental health people, we all function at different levels and you need to find a scale that gives me at least a B+ or I’m outta here.
|
Domain |
1 – 10 |
11 – 20 |
21 – 30 |
31 – 40 |
41 – 50 |
51 – 60 |
61 – 70 |
71 – 80 |
81 – 90 | 91 – 100 |
|
Symptom Severity |
Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others (e.g., recurrent violence) Or serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death. Or |
Some danger of hurting self or others (e.g., suicide attempts without clear expectation of death; frequently violent; manic excitement) Or Gross impairment in communication (e.g., largely incoherent or mute) Or |
Behavior is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations Or serious impairment in communication or judgment (e.g., sometimes incoherent, acts grossly inappropriately, suicidal preoccupation) Or |
Some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g., speech is at time illogical, obscure or irrelevant) Or |
Serious symptoms (e.g., suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting). Or |
Moderate symptoms (e.g., flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) Or |
Some mild symptoms (e.g., depressed mood and mild insomnia) Or |
If symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors (e.g., difficulty concentrating after family argument |
Absent or minimal symptoms (e.g., mild anxiety before an exam), Generally satisfied with life. No more than everyday problems or concerns (e.g., an occasional argument with family members). |
No symptoms |
|
Level of Functioning |
Persistent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene |
Occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene (e.g., smears feces) |
Inability to function in almost all areas (e.g., stays in bed all day, no job, home or friends) |
Major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g., depressed man avoids friend, neglects family, and is unable to work; child frequently beats up younger children, is defiant at home and is failing in school). |
Any serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, unable to keep a job). |
Moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., few friends, conflicts with co-workers). |
Some difficulty in social, occupational or school functioning (e.g., occasional truancy, or theft within the household), but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships.. |
No more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., temporarily falling behind in school work). |
Good functioning in all areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, |
Superior functioning Is sought out by others |
