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Measuring executive dysfunction in an acute rehabilitation setting: Using the dysexecutive questionnaire (DEX)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2005

PAULEEN C. BENNETT ,
BEN ONG  and
JENNIE PONSFORD
PAULEEN C. BENNETT
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
BEN ONG
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
JENNIE PONSFORD
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract

It is recognized that existing neuropsychological measures of executive dysfunction lack adequate sensitivity and selectivity. While attempts have been made to develop improved measures, these have not yet been of great value to those who need to accurately identify executive deficits in a clinical setting. Several behavioral rating scales have been developed for this reason, including the 20-item Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX), which forms part of the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) test battery. To investigate the ability of the DEX to identify executive dysfunction in an acute rehabilitation setting, the BADS was administered to 64 persons who had sustained traumatic brain injury. It was found to be almost as sensitive to executive dysfunction, as measured by the total score obtained on the BADS battery, as an extended 65-item version of the scale, when completed by either the occupational therapist or clinical neuropsychologist working with each patient. Family members and the patient themselves provided, as expected, less accurate information. Our results indicate that the DEX can be used with some confidence as a screening instrument to identify executive dysfunction in an acute rehabilitation setting, provided it is completed by professional personnel, trained to be sensitive to the cognitive and behavioral concomitants of this disorder. (JINS, 2005, 11, 376–385.)

Keywords

Dysexecutive questionnaire (DEX)Executive dysfunction (ED)Behavioral assessment of the dysexecutive syndrome (BADS)Clinical neuropsychology
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , July 2005 , pp. 376 - 385
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

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