Comparing the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 in children and adolescents

Abstract

Introduction. The DSM-5 replaced the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Questionnaire (WHODAS) 2.0 as a measure of functioning because of the shortcomings of the former. However, further evidence of how GAF and WHODAS 2.0 scores are correlated and how both instruments are associated with sociodemographic and clinical variables. particularly in children and adolescents, is required to support this change. Objective. To correlate GAF and WHODAS 2.0 scores in a sample of children and adolescents, and to determine which sociodemographic and clinical variables are associated with the scores of each instrument. Method. Using reports obtained from a secondary database analysis of a cross-sectional, multicentric study, we calculated the correlation between WHODAS 2.0 and GAF scores in a clinical sample of children and performed a general linear model analysis to evaluate the association between the sociodemographic and clinical variables with functioning scores. Results. Sixty-six participants completed the evaluation. The correlation between WHODAS 2.0 and GAF (r = -.69, 95% CI = [-.82, -.49], p () .001) was moderate to large and significant. Only poor peer relationships and a higher number of diagnoses were significantly associated with low functioning in both instruments. The results suggest that WHODAS 2.0 and GAF scores reflect different aspects of functioning and disability. Discussion and conclusion. Both instruments can provide an accurate assessment of disability/functionality. We propose that, for pediatric cases, WHODAS could provide more information on the self-care domain.