Validity of the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning (GARF) when used by community-based therapists

Construct validity of the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning (GARF) was assessed using a health services research approach, a mode of study that captures the naturalistic practice of health service providers. A sample of 395 couple/family cases with GARF scores assigned pre- and post-therapy by 222 community-based marriage and family therapists yielded these results: 1) pretreatment GARF scores were negatively correlated with severity of client problems; 2) GARF change scores were positively correlated with client reported changes in functioning; 3) GARF change scores were positively correlated with therapist-reported client change; 4) GARF change scores were positively correlated with client satisfaction; 5) pretreatment GARF scores were negatively correlated with number of therapy sessions; and 6) pretreatment GARF scores and client diagnoses showed no relationship. Given these results the GARF appears to have construct validity in community settings, and is a promising brief assessment tool for relational functioning.