Failure to Function Adequately

• Rosenhan and Seligman (1989) - identify various features of dysfunction, including:


  Personal distress (e.g. anxiety, depression, excessive fear)

  Maladaptive behaviour (i.e. behaviour that prevents the person achieving goals)

  Irrationality

  Unpredictability

  Discomfort to others
• The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) 


  Scale provides a way to quantify (from 0 to 100) the extent to which a mental disorder affects an individual’s ability to function adequately. A person who scores highly (e.g. 80+) will have few if any symptoms that prevent their ability to function, whereas a person with a very low score (<20) will struggle in society and may even be a danger to themself or other