Global functioning is assessed with which instrument?

• A. World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale
• B. Beck Depression Inventory
• C. Mini-Mental State Examination
• D. Global Assessment of Functioning

Answer: (A)

Global functioning is about how well a person can perform daily activities and participate in life across multiple areas. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) is built specifically to measure functioning and disability across cultures and conditions, examining six domains: cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along with others, life activities, and participation. Because it captures functioning across these domains, it provides a comprehensive global picture of how a person is functioning, not just whether they have symptoms.

The other instruments focus more narrowly. The Beck Depression Inventory assesses the severity of depressive symptoms, not overall functioning. The Mini-Mental State Examination screens cognitive impairment but does not measure functional abilities in daily life. The Global Assessment of Functioning offers a single global rating of functioning, but WHODAS provides a standardized, multi-domain, cross-cultural assessment, giving a more complete view of global functioning.