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Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Adult Version (BRIEF-A)
Availability
Please visit this website for more information about the instrument: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version
Classification
Supplemental - Highly Recommended: Cerebral Palsy (CP) and *Mitochondrial Disease (Mito)
*Recommendations for use: Indicated for studies that aim to assess executive function skills in adults.
Short Description of Instrument
The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Adults (BRIEF-A) is a scaled designed to assess self-reported behaviors that are associated with executive function. It is completed by the participant being evaluated as well as an informant. It is designed to measure an adult's self-view and captures important observer information for a comprehensive picture of the participant's executive functioning. This test is composed of 75 different items. It yields nine non-overlapping theoretically and empirically derived clinical scales, each of which reflects a specific aspect of executive functioning (Inhibit, Shift, Emotional Control, Initiate, Task Monitor, Self-Monitor, Plan/Organize, Working Memory, and Organization of Materials). Two broad indexes (Behavioral Regulation and Metacognition), an overall summary score, and three validity scales (Negativity, Infrequency, and Inconsistency) are included.
Comments/Special Instructions
Age Range: 18-90 years
 
Administration: Self and Informant Report; Individual or Group
 
Administration Time: 10-15 minutes to administer; 15-20 minutes to score
 
Other Languages: Spanish language test versions are available from the publisher.
Scoring and Psychometric Properties
Scoring: Answers are scored from 1, never a problem, to 7, always a problem. Higher scores indicate poorer executive function. (Science of Behavior Change, 2023)
 
Scale Scores: Inhibit, Self-Monitor, Plan/Organize, Shift, Initiate, Task Monitor, Emotional Control, Working Memory, and Organization of Materials.
 
Composite Scores: The two broad composites may also be used (Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI); Metacognition Index (MI)). The nine non-overlapping clinical scales may also be of interest to researchers.
 
Additional Scores: Negativity, Inconsistency, and Infrequency.
"T scores (M= 50, SD= 10) are used to interpret the participant's level of executive functioning on the BRIEF-A. Traditionally T scores at or above 65 are considered clinically significant." (Roth et al., 2005)
 
Psychometric Properties: The BRIEF-A has demonstrated evidence of reliability, validity, and clinical utility as an ecologically sensitive measure of executive functioning in individuals with a range of conditions, such as eating disorders (Ciszewski et al., 2014), autism (Biederman  et al., 2022), and traumatic brain injury (Waid-Ebbs et al., 2012).
Rationale/Justification
Strengths: The BRIEF-A captures views of an adult's executive functions or self-regulation in his/her everyday environment. It is a valuable screening instrument because it has been shown to be selectively sensitive to disorders of executive functions that influence cognitive skills and behaviors (Rabin et al., 2006)
 
Weaknesses: In non-U.S. countries interpretation of results using U.S. normative data may not appropriately capture cultural differences (LØvstad et al., 2016).
References
Key References:
Roth R, Isquith P, Gioia G. Behavior rating inventory of executive function - adult version (BRIEF-A). Lutz (FL): Psychological Assessment Resources; 2005. [Internet]. Available from: https://www.parinc.com/Products/Pkey/25. Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc: Lutz, FL. Accessed 06 October 2023.
 
Additional References:
Biederman J, DiSalvo ML, Hutt Vater CR, Woodworth KY, Faraone SV. Toward Operationalizing Executive Function Deficits in Adults With ADHD Using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A). J Clin Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 21;84(1):22m14530.
 
Ciszewski S, Francis K, Mendella P, Bissada H, Tasca GA. Validity and reliability of the behavior rating inventory of executive function - adult version in a clinical sample with eating disorders. Eat Behav. 2014 Apr;15(2):175-81.
 
LØvstad M, Sigurdardottir S, Andersson S, Grane VA, Moberget T, Stubberud J, Solbakk AK. Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Adult Version in Patients with Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Conditions: Symptom Levels and Relationship to Emotional Distress. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2016 Jul;22(6):682-94.
 
Rabin LA, Roth RM, Isquith PK, Wishart HA, Nutter-Upham KE, Pare N, Flashman LA, Saykin AJ. Self- and informant reports of executive function on the BRIEF-A in MCI and older adults with cognitive complaints. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2006 Oct;21(7):721-32.
 
Roth RM, Lance CE, Isquith PK, Fischer AS, Giancola PR. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version in healthy adults and application to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2013 Aug;28(5):425-34.
 
Science of Behavior Change. 2023. Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Adult. Available at: https://scienceofbehaviorchange.org/measures/behavior-rating-inventory-of-executive-function-adults/. Accessed 06October 2023.
 
Waid-Ebbs JK, Wen PS, Heaton SC, Donovan NJ, Velozo C. The item level psychometrics of the behaviour rating inventory of executive function-adult (BRIEF-A) in a TBI sample. Brain Inj. 2012;26(13-14):1646-57.
 
Document last updated March 2024