INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 10 Program Schedule 02/17/2024 09:00 am - 10:15 am Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 10: Neurodevelopmental \| Congenital Conditions Final Abstract #53 An Assessment of the BRIEF-A’s Ability to Differentiate the Executive Functioning Profiles of ASD and ADHD George Kent, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States Nathan Palladino, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States Tyler Brandys, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States Stuart Folkerts, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States Emilie Clark, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States Natalie Walsh, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States Benjamin Pyykkonen, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States Category: Assessment/Psychometrics/Methods (Adult) Keyword 1: autism spectrum disorder Keyword 2: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Keyword 3: executive functions Objective: ASD and ADHD are two of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, each with an estimated prevalence of at least 1-5% (Baird et al., 2006; Erskein et al., 2013; Song et al., 2021). Furthermore, research suggests symptom overlap between these two common diagnoses. In fact, one study suggested that ADHD and ASD share common neurodevelopmental pathways (Johnson et al., 2015, p. 228). Considering this potential overlap, it is important to maintain measures that can accurately differentiate the two conditions. However, this has proven difficult as ADHD and ASD presentations overlap in working memory, response inhibition, and processing speed domains on different performance-based measures (Karalunas et al., 2018). Additionally, one study found no significant variability in cognitive flexibility, as measured by a switch task, when comparing ADHD and ASD groups (Hours et al., 2022). One measure that appears to validly measure contextual-based executive functioning in multiple conditions, including ASD and ADHD, is the BRIEF-A. The current study explores if there is a unique cognitive profile of executive functioning differentiating ADHD and ASD on the BRIEF-A. Participants and Methods: This study used archival data from 115 participants assessed at a private practice neuropsychology clinic in the Midwestern United States. The sample’s average age was 29.63 and the average education was 13.81. The BRIEF-A is a self and collateral report of contextually-based EF across multiple sub domains. Linear multiple regression was employed to identify differential endorsement when comparing cognitive profiles in those with ASD (n = 20) and ADHD (n = 85) on the BRIEF-A. Results: Self-endorsement on the BRIEF-A was not predictive of diagnosis when comparing ASD and ADHD. The adjusted r-square of the whole model including all subscales of the BRIEF-A was -0.003 and was not statistically significant (p=0.47). In follow up analysis, there were no significant differences between diagnostic groups in self-report (p > 0.04) on subscales of the BRIEF-A, with the exception of working memory (p=0.04). All comparisons identified very modest effect sizes. Conclusions: Despite the BRIEF-A being a widely used measure of executive functioning for ADHD and ASD assessment, present results indicate that scores on it are not predictive of distinguishing whether ADHD or ASD is given as a diagnosis. Similarly, none of the subscales were capable of identifying significant differences between ASD and ADHD except for working memory. These results raise questions about the sensitivity of the BRIEF-A when comparing these conditions. More research is needed to clarify the distinct executive functioning profiles of ASD and ADHD to further understand their differences and enable clinicians to accurately measure and distinguish between them. Additional research exploring the nature of self and collateral reports of executive functioning is warranted. Limitations, supplemental findings, and future directions will be further discussed.

Poster

02/17/2024
09:00 am - 10:15 am
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 10: Neurodevelopmental | Congenital Conditions

Final Abstract #53

An Assessment of the BRIEF-A’s Ability to Differentiate the Executive Functioning Profiles of ASD and ADHD

George Kent, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States
Nathan Palladino, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States
Tyler Brandys, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States
Stuart Folkerts, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States
Emilie Clark, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States
Natalie Walsh, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States
Benjamin Pyykkonen, Wheaton College, Wheaton, United States

Category: Assessment/Psychometrics/Methods (Adult)

Keyword 1: autism spectrum disorder
Keyword 2: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Keyword 3: executive functions

Objective:

ASD and ADHD are two of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, each with an estimated prevalence of at least 1-5% (Baird et al., 2006; Erskein et al., 2013; Song et al., 2021). Furthermore, research suggests symptom overlap between these two common diagnoses. In fact, one study suggested that ADHD and ASD share common neurodevelopmental pathways (Johnson et al., 2015, p. 228). Considering this potential overlap, it is important to maintain measures that can accurately differentiate the two conditions. However, this has proven difficult as ADHD and ASD presentations overlap in working memory, response inhibition, and processing speed domains on different performance-based measures (Karalunas et al., 2018). Additionally, one study found no significant variability in cognitive flexibility, as measured by a switch task, when comparing ADHD and ASD groups (Hours et al., 2022). One measure that appears to validly measure contextual-based executive functioning in multiple conditions, including ASD and ADHD, is the BRIEF-A. The current study explores if there is a unique cognitive profile of executive functioning differentiating ADHD and ASD on the BRIEF-A.

Participants and Methods:

This study used archival data from 115 participants assessed at a private practice neuropsychology clinic in the Midwestern United States. The sample’s average age was 29.63 and the average education was 13.81. The BRIEF-A is a self and collateral report of contextually-based EF across multiple sub domains. Linear multiple regression was employed to identify differential endorsement when comparing cognitive profiles in those with ASD (n = 20) and ADHD (n = 85) on the BRIEF-A.

Results:

Self-endorsement on the BRIEF-A was not predictive of diagnosis when comparing ASD and ADHD. The adjusted r-square of the whole model including all subscales of the BRIEF-A was -0.003 and was not statistically significant (p=0.47). In follow up analysis, there were no significant differences between diagnostic groups in self-report (p > 0.04) on subscales of the BRIEF-A, with the exception of working memory (p=0.04). All comparisons identified very modest effect sizes.

Conclusions:

Despite the BRIEF-A being a widely used measure of executive functioning for ADHD and ASD assessment, present results indicate that scores on it are not predictive of distinguishing whether ADHD or ASD is given as a diagnosis. Similarly, none of the subscales were capable of identifying significant differences between ASD and ADHD except for working memory. These results raise questions about the sensitivity of the BRIEF-A when comparing these conditions. More research is needed to clarify the distinct executive functioning profiles of ASD and ADHD to further understand their differences and enable clinicians to accurately measure and distinguish between them. Additional research exploring the nature of self and collateral reports of executive functioning is warranted. Limitations, supplemental findings, and future directions will be further discussed.