Validation of an executive function screener in a sample of adolescents with neurological disorders
Date
2017-10-10
Authors
Direnfeld, Esther Yona
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Abstract
Objective: It is thought that executive functions (EF) emerge as outcomes of interactions
between cognitive and emotional processes. They are an integral component of the growing regulatory abilities of children and adolescents and are important for academic
success, attainment of social competence, and psychological development, among others. It is essential to evaluate them during neuropsychological assessment. However, they are difficult to capture with performance-based, neuropsychological assessment tools. These were once considered ‘gold standard’ measurements of EF but have been critiqued for a number of reasons. As such, rating scales have been useful as a complementary, perhaps eventual alternative, to performance-based tests. Behavioural screeners have high replicability, making them practical for use across various populations, and to evaluate everyday behaviours. A four-factor executive function screener derived from the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) was previously developed and validated in a variety of age ranges and groups (Garcia-Barrera et al., 2011). However, with the exception of children with ADHD, the effectiveness of the screener has not been examined in individuals with neurologic disorder. In this population, EF are often impaired, due to delays or disruptions in normal brain development. Given these challenges in this population, this study 1) derived a similar screener for use in adolescents with neurologic disorder, using the second edition of the BASC, and 2) evaluated it against a commonly used EF rating scale [i.e., the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)] as well as performance-based executive function measures. Thirdly, this study characterized the nature of EFs in this clinical population, given that EF deficits are often central characteristics in many neurological disorders.
Participants and Methods: An archival analysis was conducted with 107 neurologically-affected adolescents seen for neuropsychological assessment at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health. Patients were included in the study if they gave consent, had at least low average intellectual functioning, had a BASC-2 completed by a parent, and were between the ages of 12-18 years. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the derived screener. Bivariate correlation analyses were used to evaluate convergent validity. To characterize the nature of this sample’s EF profiles, differences
among groups were measured in a profile analysis via multivariate analysis of variance.
Results: The four-factor model, as measured by the BASC-2 EF screener, fit the data most optimally, indicating that the structure of EF reflects the four-factor model observed
in other studies. Consistent with other studies, convergent validity was observed with the
BRIEF but not the performance-based tasks. Profile analysis indicated that there were
some overall differences among the neurological groups and their BASC-2 scores as well
as individual differences on the various factor scores. Conclusions: These findings support the four factor model measured by the screener in adolescents with neurological
disorders. Given the consistency between the factor structure in this population and previous studies measuring this screener in healthy populations, and the convergence of
the screener and the BRIEF, these findings contribute to the body of literature supporting
this executive functioning screener as a complement to performance-based tasks.
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Keywords
Executive Function, Behaviour Screener, BASC