The Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test as an evaluative tool for executive functions after severe traumatic brain injury: A comparative study

Abstract

Neuropsychological tests are often used to evaluate executive function (EF) deficits in patients suffering traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). This study compared the sensitivity of three such tests—namely, the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test (D-KEFS ST), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and the Trail Making Test (TMT)—in differentiating between severe TBI patients and healthy controls. The differences between the two groups were significant for 5/5 variables evaluated through the D-KEFS ST, for 4/6 variables evaluated through the WCST, and for 2/2 variables evaluated through the TMT. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the variables “attempted sorts” in the D-KEFS ST and completion time in Part B of the TMT were the most powerful predictors of group assignment, with cutoff points of 9.5 sorts and 84.5 seconds, respectively. Our results highlight the possible value of the D-KEFS ST in the evaluation of postinjury EF deficits in TBI patients.

Keywords:

• Executive functions
• Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test
• Traumatic brain injury
• Neuropsychological evaluation

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Michal Lutwak and Einat Heled for their help in coding and organizing the data. We also wish to thank Gad Braun and Ram Gal for their help in the preparation of this manuscript.