title: Validating the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning for Children With ADHD and Their Typically Developing Peers.
abstract: The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF) has been widely used both clinically and in research for measuring executive functioning (EF) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study examined the concurrent validity of the BRIEF (both parent and teacher ratings) compared to performance-based measures of EF in children with ADHD compared to typically developing (TD) children. The authors assessed 20 children with ADHD and 20 TD controls on 4 EF domains-working memory, planning, inhibition, and set shifting-using the BRIEF and performance-based measures of EF. Children (aged 8-12 years old) with ADHD demonstrated more EF impairment than their TD peers on both questionnaire- and performance-based measures. Ratings on questionnaire- and performance-based measures did not uniquely correlate with each other. Questionnaire-based measures were better at discriminating between children with ADHD and TD children, specifically BRIEF parent ratings, and discrimination depended mostly on the Working Memory, Plan/Organize, and Inhibit subscales. The BRIEF has clinical utility for discriminating between children with ADHD and their TD peers; however, some limitations exist for interpretation of the BRIEF, and it should be used with caution in the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada.
authors.forename: Kathlyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corkum
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; executive functioning; performance-based measure; school-aged children