Executive and nonexecutive demands of constructional measures within a children’s psychiatric inpatient setting

Jane Studeny, Elyssa Weber, Brian C. Kavanaugh, Jennifer A. Dupont-Frechette, Perrin P. Tellock, Isolde D. Maher, Lauren D. Haisley, Kyle McCurdy, Karen A. Holler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the role of executive functioning in constructional task performance (measured with the Rey Complex Figure Test-Copy Condition [RCFT] and Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration [Beery-VMI]) within a children’s psychiatric inpatient setting. A chart review was conducted for 88 children (aged 6–12) who received a neuropsychological evaluation during a psychiatric inpatient hospitalization. Multiple regression analyses investigated the role of executive and nonexecutive demands on RCFT and Beery-VMI performance. Forty-three percent of the sample displayed a constructional weakness. Children with a constructional weakness had lower FSIQ scores and a higher rate of executive dysfunction. Performance on the RCFT was independently predicted by perceptual ability (i.e., Matrix Reasoning; p =.008; β =.340) and attention/executive dysfunction (p =.003; β = −.342; 9.4% of variance), while performance on the Beery-VMI was independently predicted by constructional ability (i.e., Block Design; p =.004, β =.338). Results of this study demonstrate that the RCFT has greater executive demand than the VMI and yields a greater rate of impaired performance in an inpatient child sample as compared to the VMI. Clinical and research practices should consider the distinct differences between various constructional measures to ensure their proper use and interpretation with consideration to their varying executive and nonexecutive demands.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)40-49
Number of pages10
JournalApplied Neuropsychology: Child
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2 2019
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

  • Executive
  • neuropsychology
  • psychiatric
  • RCFT
  • VMI

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Executive and nonexecutive demands of constructional measures within a children’s psychiatric inpatient setting'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this