title: Development of an assessment of functioning scale for prison environments.
abstract: This paper reports the development of a global assessment of functioning (GAF), modified from the DSM Axis V GAF for the prison environment. Focus groups, which were conducted with 36 correctional officers and clinicians in two prisons, provided descriptions of behavior in prison settings to re-align the GAF scale. Face validity was established. It was found that Habitation/Behavior, Social, and Symptoms emerged as important domains of functioning in prison. Gender differences were noted with regard to cleanliness, relationships and coping strategies. The cut-off score was identified at a score where offenders were unable to participate in a disciplinary process due to their mental illness. The structure of prison alters human functioning, requiring different assessment language and ratings to measure perceived behavioral norms and/or expectations. Front-line staff need the ability to observe and communicate behavioral changes quickly and accurately in a prison environment without undue burden upon their workload. This assessment was modified by front-line staff specifically for the prison environment to document quick and frequent assessments of observed changes over time in the offender population.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-2026, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011330:Prisons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results