Assessing Information

The chart illustrates how to assess information about functioning and how functioning can be described and linked to a symptom of a mental illness.

Describing function and linking to symptoms of mental illness

Life Domain

1. How is the person functioning in this domain?

2. Where functioning is impaired, is that caused by or interfered with by the mental illness?

3. If so, how?

Interpersonal Functioning

Terry does not relate well to others, tending to shy away from them and isolate herself.

Terry’s hallucinations and anxiety interfere with her ability to make friends, use natural supports and ask for help.

Terry reports that she sometimes knows that her voices are talking to her, but she can’t stop herself from answering them. She gets more anxious when she tries to sort out who is talking – a person or the voice and this makes it even harder.