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Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Adult Version in Patients with Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Conditions: Symptom Levels and Relationship to Emotional Distress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2016

M. Løvstad ,
S. Sigurdardottir ,
S. Andersson ,
V.A. Grane ,
T. Moberget ,
J. Stubberud  and
A.K. Solbakk
M. Løvstad*
Affiliation:
Research Department, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
S. Sigurdardottir
Affiliation:
Research Department, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway Division of Surgery and Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
S. Andersson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
V.A. Grane
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway Department of Neuropsychology, Helgeland Hospital, Mosjøen, Norway
T. Moberget
Affiliation:
Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway Regional Center of Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway
J. Stubberud
Affiliation:
Research Department, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway
A.K. Solbakk
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway Department of Neuropsychology, Helgeland Hospital, Mosjøen, Norway Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Surgery and Clinical Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Marianne Løvstad, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Bjørnemyrvn. 11, 1450 Nesoddtangen, Norway. E-mail: marianne.lovstad@sunnaas.no
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Abstract

Objectives: The present study explored the level of self-and informant reported executive functioning in daily living using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A) in a large sample comprising healthy adults and patient cohorts with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The relationship to neuropsychological test performance and self-reported emotional distress was explored, as well as the applicability of U.S. normative data. Methods: Scores on the self- and informant reported BRIEF-A are presented, along with scores on standardized cognitive tests, and on rating scales of self-reported emotional distress in a Norwegian healthy comparison group (n=115), patients with severe traumatic brain injury (n=125), focal frontal lobe damage (n=29), focal cerebellar lesion (n=24), Parkinson’s disease (n=42), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n=34), type II bipolar disorder (n=21), and borderline personality disorder (n=18). Results: Strong associations were observed between the BRIEF-A and emotional distress in both the healthy group and in neurological groups, while no or weak relationships with IQ and performance-based tests of executive function were seen. The relationship between BRIEF-A and emotional distress was weaker in the neuropsychiatric patient groups, despite high symptom load in both domains. Healthy participants tended to have BRIEF-A scores 1/2–3/4 SD below the U.S. normative mean of T score=50. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the need to interpret BRIEF-A results within a broad differential diagnostic context, where measures of psychological distress are included in addition to neuropsychological tests. Uncertainty about the appropriateness of U.S. normative data in non-U.S. countries adds to the need for interpretive caution. (JINS, 2016, 22, 682–694)

Keywords

NeuropsychologyExecutive functioningnormsassessmentBRIEF-Aemotional distressneurological conditionneuropsychiatric condition
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 22 , Issue 6 , July 2016 , pp. 682 - 694
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2016 

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