The criterion-related validity of the IADL Profile with measures of executive functions, indices of trauma severity and sociodemographic characteristics

Abstract

Primary objective: To examine relationships between classical measures of executive functions (EF) and indices of traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity with the IADL Profile, a new performance-based measure of independence in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) based on EF. This study hypothesized the presence of correlations between classical tests of EF and the IADL Profile, as the latter aims to establish whether the subject's main difficulties pertain to goal formulation, planning, carrying out the task and/or attaining the initial task goal; all important components of EF.Methods and procedures: One hundred subjects with a moderate/severe TBI aged 16–65 years (convenience sample) were recruited. Subjects were tested with the IADL Profile and three measures of EF within their home environment. Data was analysed using Pearson correlations, t-tests and multiple stepwise regressions.Results: Post-traumatic amnesia and working memory emerged as the major determinants of IADL Profile scores. Together, indices of injury severity, measures of EF, education, age and environmental factors accounted for 12–28% of the variance in IADL Profile scores.Conclusions: This study has shown that the IADL Profile's non-structured approach permits the observation of a broad range of behaviours related to EF deficits and thus provides a closer approximation of the person's independence in IADL. Further study is required to demonstrate the IADL Profile's ability to inform more targeted treatment interventions.