Executive Functioning
All BRIEF mean T-scores were in the normal range (Table 2), although
scores ranged from within the normal range to the impaired range across
most scales. No significant relationship (p ≥ 0.10) was found
between the Global Executive Composite, Behavioral Regulation or
Metacognition indices and the following variables: age at baseline,
gender, histology, hydrocephalus at diagnosis, history of surgical
resection, location of tumor, radiation field, treatment with
chemotherapy, SES, or the time interval between baseline and follow-up.
There were no significant differences between age by radiation field
groups and the Global Executive Composite (p = 0.39), Behavioral
Regulation Index (p = 0.59) or Metacognition (p = 0.40)
mean T-scores. That is, younger and older age groups who received CSI or
focal PRT did not significantly differ in executive functioning skills
at follow-up.
Compared to the normative mean, significantly elevated mean scores were
found on the Metacognition (p = 0.003), Initiate
(p = 0.001), Working Memory
(p < 0.001), and Plan/Organize (p = 0.007)
scales. In contrast, mean scores were significantly better than
expectation on the Inhibit scale (p = 0.001) and Behavioral
Regulation Index (p = 0.019). Mean scores were at or near the
normative mean on the remaining clinical scales.
Rate of impairment on the Behavioral Regulation Index for the total
sample was similar to expected rates in the general population. In
contrast, scales assessing metacognitive skills, namely Metacognition,
Initiate, Working Memory, and Plan/ Organize, exceeded expectations.
There was no significant difference (p > 0.10)
between the rates of impairment and the two age groups on any BRIEF
scale, although the younger group had a slightly greater percentage of
overall executive functioning difficulties than the older group (Global
Executive Composite 17.9% vs. 13.3%). Rates of impairment were
slightly higher in the younger age group treated with CSI compared to
focal PRT for Global Executive Composite (4/19, 21.1% vs. 8/48,
16.7%).