Global assessment of functioning of patients with schizophrenia a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

To assess psychological, social and occupational functioning of patients after seven years of diagnosis of schizophrenia using Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF] scale [DSM-IV Axis-V]. A cross sectional study. Department of Psychiatry, Military Hospital Rawalpindi from October 2007 to October 2008. This study included 30 patients who were retired military personnel invalided out of service with diagnosis of Schizophrenia between 1[st] Jan 2000 to 31[st] Dec 2001. After recording demographic data, patients underwent psychometric evaluation seven years after the diagnosis in 2007 and 2008 respectively for assessment of their psychological, social and occupational functioning using Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF] Scale [DSM - IV Axis V]. All subjects were male. Majority of the patients i.e. 14 [46.7%] patients had mild to moderate symptoms of the disease [GAF score 41 - 80]. Those having high income, employed and living in cities were associated with better global functioning. Schizophrenia continues to be a chronic disabling severe mental illness with deterioration in all aspects of functioning of patients