title: Dynamic occupation assessment of executive function in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: An initial report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study presents an initial evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Dynamic Occupation Assessment of Executive Function (DOAEF), a new tool designed to assess adolescents' executive function (EF) in daily situations and offering two levels of mediation through the administration process.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the preliminary study, we tested 22 healthy adolescents. In the advanced stage, the instrument was administered to 105 healthy adolescents and to another 92 adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Information regarding EF was assessed by the DOAEF and Wisconsin Card Sorting Computer Version Test (WCST-CV-64).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inter-rater, test-retest and internal consistency indices were found to be satisfactory. Correlation between the DOAEF and the WCST-CV-64 scores supports the DOAEF's convergent validity. Significant differences were found between the healthy participants and the adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, thus supporting the DOAEF's criterion validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DOAEF may be useful in assessing the level of mediation, which patients need for the comprehension of daily situations in which EFs are required.
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescents Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chubarov
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescents Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sommerfeld
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Adult Outpatient Clinic, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hermesh
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescents Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shoval
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Psychiatry, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescents Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: zalsman@post.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zalsman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: Adolescent; Dynamic occupational assessment; Executive function; Schizophrenia spectrum disorders