ABSTRACT
Abstract Background Considering the importance of Executive Functions to clinical and nonclinical situations, Barkley proposed a new theory of executive functioning based on an evolutionary neuropsychological perspective and clinical research using large samples of clinical and community identified adults and children as well as children with ADHD followed to adulthood. Objective The present study aims to adapt the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functions Scales (BDEFS) to Brazilian Portuguese and also assess its construct validity in a sample of normal Brazilian adults. Methods The original version of scale was adapted to Brazilian Portuguese according to the guideline from the ISPOR Task Force. To assess the semantic equivalence between the original and adapted version, both of them were applied into a sample of 25 Brazilian bilingual adults. Finally, 60 Brazilian adults completed the BDEFS and the Brazilian versions of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS-18) to assess convergent validity. Results The BDEFS Brazilian Portuguese version has semantic correspondence with the original version indicating that the adaptation procedure was successful. The BDEFS correlated significantly with the impulsivity and attention scores from the BIS-11 and ASRS-18 supporting its construct validity. Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.961) indicated that the BDEFS translated version has satisfactory internal consistency. Discussion Together, these findings indicate the successful adaptation of the BDEFS to Brazilian Portuguese and support its utility in that population.
ABSTRACT
Despite the large number of instruments developed to assess the more purely cognitive executive functions in Brazilian children, few studies have developed instruments for the assessment of the most motivational components of these functions. The primary aim of this study was to develop a computerised version of the Children's Gambling Task (CGT) to assess affective decision-making in preschoolers. The present study also aimed to investigate whether this version of the task is sensitive to developmental changes across the preschool period and to examine gender differences in decision-making. We administered the CGT and the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale (CMMS) to 137 Brazilian children between the ages of three and five years old. Age differences between three-and four-year-olds, but not between four-and five-year-olds were found. Gender differences were not found. From this preliminary study, the computerised version of the CGT for Brazilian child population proved to be suitable for Brazilian child population.
Apesar do grande número de instrumentos desenvolvidos para avaliação das funções executivas mais puramente cognitivas em crianças brasileiras, há poucos estudos que desenvolveram medidas para avaliação dos componentes mais motivacionais dessas funções. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma versão computadorizada da Children's Gambling Task (CGT) para avaliação da tomada de decisão afetiva em crianças pré-escolares. Também se buscou avaliar se a versão desenvolvida é capaz de discriminar grupos etários e examinar as diferenças entre gêneros na tomada de decisão. A versão brasileira da CGT e a Escala de Maturidade Mental Colúmbia foram aplicadas em 137 crianças de três a cinco anos. Observou-se que crianças de quatro e cinco anos obtiveram desempenho superior às de três, entretanto não houve diferença entre o desempenho das crianças de quatro e cinco anos, nem entre meninos e meninas. A partir deste estudo preliminar, a CGT mostrou-se apta à utilização na população brasileira.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Decision Theory , Executive Function , Games, Experimental , MotivationABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Atualmente, tem havido um interesse crescente nos aspectos "quentes" das funções executivas relacionados ao córtex orbitofrontal, em particular na tomada de decisão afetiva em crianças e adolescentes. Revisamos a literatura sobre a avaliação da tomada de decisão em crianças e adolescentes utilizando o paradigma do Iowa Gambling Task e derivados. MÉTODO: Pesquisamos artigos publicados de 2000 a 2009, indexados no Lilacs e no PubMed e que estudaram crianças e/ou adolescentes até 16 anos. Os artigos foram analisados de acordo com os paradigmas utilizados nos estudos, as conclusões sobre o desenvolvimento no processo de tomada de decisão e a capacidade de distinção entre a população clínica e os controles. RESULTADOS: Trinta e seis artigos foram selecionados. Os estudos envolvendo crianças e adolescentes ainda são poucos quando comparados àqueles realizados com população adulta. Foram desenvolvidas diversas versões derivadas do paradigma IGT a fim de estudar a tomada de decisão em crianças e adolescentes. CONCLUSÃO: O IGT é o instrumento mais utilizado. Em pré-escolares, versões simplificadas têm sido utilizadas com maior frequência. Os diferentes paradigmas se mostram úteis na diferenciação entre sujeitos normais e com transtornos psiquiátricos. Os resultados se relacionam de forma positiva e significativa com a frequência de comportamentos impulsivos em populações não clínicas.
OBJECTIVE: Nowadays there has been growing interest in the "hot" aspects of the executive functions related to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), in particular in the affective decision-making process in children and adolescents. We reviewed the available literature about the evaluation of decision making in children and adolescents. METHOD: We searched for papers published from 2000 to 2009 that studied children and/or adolescents until the age of 16 in the Lilacs and PubMed index. The papers were analyzed according to the paradigms used in the studies, the conclusions about the development of the decision-making process, and the ability to distinguish between the clinical population and the controls. RESULTS: Thirty-six papers were selected. Compared to the amount of studies of adults, there are still few studies focusing on children and adolescents. Several versions derived from the IGT were developed in order to study decision-making processes in children and adolescents. DISCUSSION: The IGT is the most used instrument. In preschoolers, simplified versions have been used with greater frequency. The different paradigms are useful in differentiating between normal and psychiatric disorder patients. The results are positively and significantly related to the frequency of impulsive behaviors in nonclinical populations.