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Clark H, Schroeder R, Martin P, A-168 Do Family Members’ Subjective Perceptions of Decline in Executive Functioning Skills Reflect Objective Cognitive Dysfunction?, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Volume 35, Issue 6, September 2020, Page 962, https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acaa068.168
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Abstract
On behavior rating scales completed by family members, executive functioning is often operationalized in terms of subdomain abilities (e.g., problem-solving, multitasking, and organizing). It is unclear, however, how well collateral assessments of these abilities reflect patients’ actual executive functioning. The current study investigated the relationship between family members’ reported perceptions of change in patients’ problem-solving, multitasking, and organizing abilities and objective neuropsychological test findings.
Patients undergoing dementia evaluations (n = 56, mean age = 71.4, mean education = 13.0 years) minimally completed subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS; Trail Making, Verbal Fluency, Color-Word, Tower) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Information from family members was obtained via a questionnaire asking about degrees of change (no change, mild change, moderate change, or severe change) in problem-solving, multitasking, and organizing. Spearman correlations were calculated between family members’ perceptions of change and cognitive dysfunction, as measured by D-KEFS (subtests and combined averaged scaled score) and RBANS index scores.
Perceived changes in problem-solving, multitasking, and organizing did not significantly correlate at p < .05 with either D-KEFS subtest scores or the combined scaled score. Perceived changes significantly correlated with RBANS Immediate Memory (problem-solving: rs = −.338, p = .014; multitasking: rs = −.323, p = .017; organizing: rs = −.293, p = .028) and Language (problem-solving: rs = −.306, p = .027) indices.
Family members’ perceptions of change in problem-solving, multitasking, and organizing did not correspond with objective executive dysfunction observed on neuropsychological testing. Future research should attempt to cross-validate these findings. If cross-validated, results would suggest limited utility in using these terms to operationalize executive functioning on behavior rating scales.
