The assessment of executive functions in adolescents: Development of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Self-Report version

This study was designed to investigate initial psychometric properties of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Self-Report. Generally, executive functions are described as the self-regulatory or control processes that not only organize, but also direct all cognitive, behavioral, and emotional activities. The BRIEF-SR is unique in its availability as a brief, self-report measure for use in conjunction with other assessment measures of executive functions in either a normative or clinical population of adolescents, ages 11 to 18 years. The BRIEF-SR is particularly advantageous in that it may be administered along with the BRIEF-Parent Form and the BRIEF-Teacher Form to capture more thoroughly the executive function profile of an adolescent. Overall, the results from this study support the reliability (interrater and internal consistency), validity (convergent and divergent), and initial clinical utility (with an ADHD population) of the BRIEF-SR as a way to quantify the adolescents' perception of his/her difficulties. The development of a self-report questionnaire for adolescents will contribute to the assessment and treatment of executive functioning disorders.