Tsatali Marianna, Surdu Fotini, Konstantinou Andromachi, Moraitou Despina
Laboratory of Psychology, Department of Cognition, Brain and Behavior, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece;
NeuroSci. 2024 Oct 4;5(4):378-395. doi: 10.3390/neurosci5040029. eCollection 2024 Dec.
This study was designed to adapt the Delis-Kaplan Executive System (D-KEFS) version of the Color-Word Interference (CWIT) and Trail Making Tests (TMTs) for the Greek adult population from 20 to 49 years old, since it is of research as well as clinical importance to detect executive functions' impairment in young adults with neurological or/and psychiatric conditions.
Norms for the Greek adult population have been calculated to be available for neuropsychologists and health professionals who work in relevant settings.
The study sample consisted of 101 healthy adults (41% male and 60% female) aged 20 to 49 years (M = 32.16, SD = 11.57) with education from 12 to 19 years of schooling (M = 14.51, SD = 0.89). A Pearson correlation test as well as a chi square test were conducted to examine potential associations between gender, age, education, and participants' performance. Afterwards, we calculated normative data using raw scores and transformed them into percentile scores. Finally, Greek norms were compared to the original raw scores, which were transformed into scaled scores by Delis et al. (2001).
The findings showed that age was the only variable which affected CWIT, whereas level of education as well as age were predictive factors for most TMT conditions, except for the visual scanning test (Condition 1). Gender did not affect both tests. Finally, D-KEFS norms for CWIT and TMT are available for the Greek adult population to help clinicians detect executive functions' deficits and therefore adjust tailored therapeutic strategies. Additionally, it is of great importance to use these tests for research purposes.
Given that executive functions are assumed as high-level skills, which are highly related to everyday functionality, adapted tests contribute not only to assess the progression of any existing neurological as well as psychiatric disorders, but they can also be used to evaluate patients' ability to live independently, as well as their access to work.
本研究旨在使Delis-Kaplan执行功能系统（D-KEFS）版本的色词干扰测试（CWIT）和连线测验（TMT）适用于20至49岁的希腊成年人群体，因为在患有神经或/和精神疾病的年轻人中检测执行功能障碍具有研究和临床重要性。
已计算出希腊成年人群体的常模，可供在相关环境中工作的神经心理学家和健康专业人员使用。
研究样本包括101名年龄在20至49岁之间（M = 32.16，标准差 = 11.57）的健康成年人（41%为男性，60%为女性），受教育年限为12至19年（M = 14.51，标准差 = 0.89）。进行了Pearson相关检验以及卡方检验，以检查性别、年龄、教育程度与参与者表现之间的潜在关联。之后，我们使用原始分数计算常模数据，并将其转换为百分位数分数。最后，将希腊常模与原始原始分数进行比较，原始原始分数由Delis等人（2001年）转换为量表分数。
研究结果表明，年龄是唯一影响CWIT的变量，而教育程度和年龄是大多数TMT条件（视觉扫描测试（条件1）除外）的预测因素。性别对这两项测试均无影响。最后，希腊成年人群体可获得CWIT和TMT的D-KEFS常模，以帮助临床医生检测执行功能缺陷，从而调整量身定制的治疗策略。此外，将这些测试用于研究目的也非常重要。
鉴于执行功能被视为高级技能，与日常功能密切相关，经过改编的测试不仅有助于评估任何现有神经和精神疾病的进展，还可用于评估患者的独立生活能力以及就业机会。
