Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS)

What is it image

What is it?

Information
  • CGAS rates functioning in ages 4-16, on a scale of 1-100.
  • Often used for continuity of care until 18.
  • Practitioners assess based on psychological and social functioning.
  • Used with other tools to assess well-being.

Here's more detail

Published: 29/08/24

Description

The Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) is a tool used by practitioners to rate how well a child or young person is doing overall, on a scale from 0 to 100.

It looks at their general functioning based on information from previous assessments and interviews with the child, their parents, carers, and school.

The score reflects their lowest level of functioning over the past month. It helps measure overall well-being, guide treatment decisions and to monitor progress over time.

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Studies have demonstrated the excellent validity and reliability of this scale within hospital and community settings, along with its feasible integration into clinical practice.

- Research on using the CGAS

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More info

  • What does it measure?

    The CGAS is a tool used by practitioners to measure how well a child or young person is functioning, and to track changes over time.

  • Who is it for?

    The Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) can be used by various professionals involved in a child’s care.

  • How do you use the CGAS?

    To use the Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), practitioners begin by gathering comprehensive information about the child’s psychological and social functioning from various sources, such as observations, reports, and assessments. They evaluate the child’s overall functioning over the past month, focusing on the lowest level of functioning observed during that period. Based on this evaluation, they assign a score between 1 and 100, with lower scores indicating more severe impairment. 

    The following score ranges are defined by Shaffer et al. (1983)

    • 1-10: Needs constant supervision (24 hour care)
    • 11-20: Needs considerable supervision
    • 21-30: Unable to function in almost all areas
    • 31-40: Major impairment in functioning in several areas and unable to function in one of these areas
    • 41-50: Moderate degree of interference in functioning in most social areas or severe impairment of functioning in one area
    • 51-60: Variable functioning with sporadic difficulties or symptoms in several but not all social areas
    • 61-70: Some difficulty in a single area, but generally functioning pretty well
    • 71-80: No more than slight impairment in functioning
    • 81-90: Good functioning in all areas
    • 91-100: Superior functioning

  • Who completes this measure?

    The Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) is typically completed by a clinician or mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker. These professionals use their expertise to assess the child’s psychological and social functioning, drawing on information from various sources, including clinical observations, interviews, and reports, to assign an appropriate score on the CGAS scale.

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