Discriminant Validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Parent Form for Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, with concomitant executive function deficits often being the focus of empirical and clinical investigation. This study explored the validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Parent Form (BRIEF; Gioia, Isquith, Guy, & Kenworthy, 2000) for children with ADHD and a matched control sample. Fifty-eight children with ADHD (69% with comorbidity) and 58 matched controls were found to exhibit statistically (p < .001) and clinically significant group differences on the BRIEF scales. Discriminant function analyses revealed that the Behavior Regulation and Metacognition Indexes accurately classified 82% of the sample (86% of controls and 79% of children with ADHD correctly identified). The Behavior Regulation Index was found to make the most significant contribution overall to the discriminant function, consistent with arguments that response inhibition is the primary deficit in ADHD. Implications and future research are discussed.