Spanish version of the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI): Psychometric properties in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability

Abstract : The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI) in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Intellectual Disability (ID). A total of 121 adults with ASD and ID were recruited and informant ratings on the ADEXI were collected to investigate the factor structure, as well as reliability and validity. The results showed that we could replicate the two-factor structure (i.e., working memory and inhibition) that had been found in a previous study of adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The two ADEXI subscales were shown to have high internal consistency and significant associations were found between the ADEXI and the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX), another executive function rating instrument. Conclusively, the ADEXI appear to be a valid instrument for assessing executive function deficits in adults with ASD and ID. Keywords : Executive deficits; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Intellectual Disability; assessment; psychometric properties. Version en espanol del Inventario de Funcionamiento Ejecutivo para Adultos (ADEXI): propiedades psicometricas en adultos con trastornos del espectro del autismo y discapacidad intelectual Resumen : El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar las propiedades psicometricas de la version espanola del Inventario de Funcionamiento Ejecutivo para Adultos (ADEXI) en personas adultas con Trastornos del Espectro del Autismo (TEA) y Discapacidad Intelectual (DI). Se recluto un total de 121 personas con TEA y DI y se recopilaron los resultados obtenidos en el ADEXI para investigar la estructura factorial, la fiabilidad y validez. Los resultados obtenidos replican los hallazgos en cuanto a estructura de dos factores (es decir, memoria de trabajo e inhibicion) de un estudio previo con una poblacion de adultos con Trastorno por Deficit de Atencion e Hiperactividad (TDAH). Se demostro que las dos subescalas del ADEXI tienen una alta consistencia interna y se encontraron asociaciones significativas entre el ADEXI y el Cuestionario Disejecutivo (DEX), otro instrumento de evaluacion de las funciones ejecutivas. En conclusion, el ADEXI parece ser un instrumento valido para evaluar la disfuncion ejecutiva en adultos con TEA y DI.