Failure to function Adequately

• Failure to Function Adequately (FFA)


  Individuals are abnormal when their behaviour suggests that they cannot cope with the demands of everyday life
• Abnormal behaviour


  • Causes distress leading to an inability to function properly, like disrupting the ability to work and/or conduct satisfying relationships
  • Individuals are often characterised by not being able to experience the usual range of emotions or behaviours
• Psychological Behaviour


  • Severe depression, which can lead to a lack of interest meaning that the depressed person may fail to get up in the morning and hold down a job
• FFA definition


  • Focuses on individual suffering, thus drawing attention to the personal experiences associated with mental disorders
• Characteristics of abnormal behaviour related to FFA definition


  • Irrational behaviour
  • Observer discomfort
• Unpredictability


  Behaviour is unexpected or unpredictable
• Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF)

  Clinicians use it to assess how well individuals cope with everyday life, rating their level of social, occupational and psychological functioning
• Criteria for FFA definition


  • Suffering: The patient may themselves suffer as a result of their condition (e.g. depression) or may inflict suffering on others
  • Maladaptiveness: Behaviour prevents the person reaching desired goals
  • Irrational: Behaviour seems to defy logical sense
  • Observer discomfort: Behaviour makes those around feel uncomfortable e.g. swearing
  • Vividness: Others find the behaviour odd e.g. all over tattoos
  • Violation of moral codes: Not behaving in accordance with society's norms eg public nudity
• Strength: Real life application


  • FFA definition applies to the diagnosis of many disorders and is an important criteria with respect to many psychological disorders. For example, depression and anxiety seriously interfere with everyday life.
• Limitation: Subjective judgement


  • Who decides what is 'adequate'? Some individuals may be content with their situation and unaware they are not coping. It is others who judge the behaviour as abnormal.
• Limitation: Abnormality not always associated with failing to function adequately


  • Many individuals with mental health issues can appear to lead perfectly normal lives most of the time, like Harold Shipman who functioned adequately despite his appalling crimes.