Item Analysis of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adults Version Using the Rasch Model in Two...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics
• Neuropsychology

Background:

• The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adults version (BRIEF-A) is a tool used to assess executive functions.
• It comprises self-report and informant-report forms, each with nine scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the unidimensionality of each BRIEF-A scale in individuals with schizophrenia.
• To examine the item-level agreement between the self-report and informant-report forms in this population.

Main Methods:

• Rasch analysis was employed to assess the unidimensionality of each scale.
• Weighted kappa and percentage of agreement were calculated to determine item-level agreement between the two BRIEF-A forms.
• Data were collected from 197 individuals with schizophrenia and 194 caregivers.

Main Results:

• The BRIEF-A scales demonstrated acceptable unidimensionality for individuals with schizophrenia.
• Item-level agreement between self-report and informant-report forms ranged from slight to fair (weighted kappa: 0.02-0.33; agreement: 36.8%-63.4%).
• The Plan/Organize scale in the informant-report form showed some deviation from unidimensionality standards.

Conclusions:

• The BRIEF-A is a unidimensional measure for assessing executive functions in people with schizophrenia.
• The low item-level agreement between self and informant reports suggests caution is needed when interpreting results.
• Utilizing multiple informants' perspectives is recommended for a comprehensive assessment of executive functions in this population.