Assessing Information

This chart illustrates how to assess information about functioning where it is important to distinguish between interference caused by mental illness and another condition.

The answers in column #1 illustrate how a good functional assessment can describe how a person is functioning.

The answers in columns #2 and #3, link the functioning with the mental illness. The person’s perception of how the mental illness interferes with their abilities is an important part of this linkage.

Example 2: Describing function which distinguishes between impairments linked to mental illness and another condition

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?

Educational Functioning

Terry reports she has trouble learning new tasks and information. Once she learns something, she remembers easily and is able to perform/use it.

Some of Terry’s learning problems are related to her borderline intelligence and inability to read past a 2nd grade level.

Her auditory hallucinations can also interfere.

When Terry is given instructions with pictures, demonstrations, and vocally, she learns better. However, when she is talking to her voices, she is unable to learn, regardless of the method. Her voices can also distract her from doing tasks she knows how to do, like getting dressed.