Dysexecutive symptoms among a non-clinical sample: A study with the use ofthe Dysexecutive Questionnaire

Clinical studies indicate that damage to the frontal lobes may lead to a se t of symptoms collectively known as 'Dysexecutive syndrome', which is chara cterized by changes in emotion, personality, motivation, behaviour and cogn itive aspects. Factor analytical study using questionnaires measuring dysex ecutive problems in everyday life also suggests a fractionation of the dyse xecutive syndrome among patients with neurological disorders. As yet, very little research has been conducted to explore the base-rate of executive pr oblems in everyday life among the non-clinical population. This pilot study aimed to explore dysexecutive behaviour similar to that of dysexecutive sy ndrome reported by a non-clinical sample. A total of 93 presumably normal p articipants were recruited. The Dysexecutive Questionnaire and a set of cli nical tests of executive function were administered to all the participants . A 5-factor solution very similar to that of a previous study was derived: inhibition (factor 1), intentionality (factor 2), knowing-doing dissociati on (factor 3), in-resistance (factor 4), and social regulation (factor 5). Correlation was established among the derived factors and tests of executiv e function. This study provides empirical evidence that a non-clinical samp le may encounter similar dysexecutive behaviours in daily life. The issue o f the fractionation of the executive system among the non-clinical sample w ill also be discussed.