Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)

This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), which is an informant rating scale that aims “to assess executive function behaviors in home and school environment”. Development of the BRIEF commenced with a literature review of executive function as these abilities develop in children. Neuropsychology colleagues were asked to describe domains of functioning encompassed by executive skills. The manual advises that although no specialist qualifications are required for administration of the BRIEF, interpretation of resulting scores and profiles requires graduate training in branches of psychology, medicine or closely related fields, as well as relevant accredited training in interpretation of psychological tests. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.