failure to function adequately

Question 1

what is meant by failure to function adequately (FFA)?

Answer 1

a person is no longer able to cope with the ordinary demands of day-to-day life and live independently in society

Question 2

give three examples of FFA?

Answer 2

unable to maintain basic hygiene or nutrition, can’t keep a job or maintain relationships with people they care about

Question 3

what does FFA cause to the person themselves and others?

Answer 3

causes personal distress and suffering but also observer discomfort

Question 4

what are Rosenhan and Seligman’s additional characteristics of FFA?

Answer 4

1. no longer conforming to standard interpersonal rules e.g. eye contact or personal space
2. experiences severe personal distress
3. behaviour is irrational or dangerous to themselves/ others

Question 5

what was developed to assess FFA?

Answer 5

the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF)

uses Rosenhan and Seligman’s criteria to see when someone starts to fail to function

it is re-done by an individual periodically to see a change in functioning

Question 6

how is considering the individual a strength of FFA?

Answer 6

only definition to consider patient’s subjective experience so the individual may be happier with the diagnosis

HOWEVER

because it relies on subjective experience (some may say they can cope and some say they can’t) , people could have same symptoms and get diff diagnosis—–> gives def poor validity

Question 7

how does FFA have face validity?

Answer 7

offers a clear threshold for help that most people can agree with
1 in 4 annually suffer with a psychological disorder, but it is the point which they can no longer cope when they get help

HOWEVER appearing to not being able to cope may only be short term- someone may struggle post bereavement but not actually have depression

HOWEVER FFA as a definition is not comprehensive - often people have disorders but appear to function fine e.g. suicide

Question 8

how is cultural relativism a limitation of FFA?

Answer 8

criteria of how people function in UK (predominantly based on white, middle class males) may not be valid for everyone else

e.g. siestas may be seen as FFA in UK but normal in other cultures

and more working class and BAME people are diagnosed with psychological disorders than anyone else, which suggests FFA is imposing a white middle class British idea of functioning on diverse population