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.)