Executive Functions in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations. A Comparative Analysis

Authors

  • Dana A. ICLOZAN Department of Psychology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Municipal Clinical Hospital Cluj-Napoca, Psychiatric Unit, Romania. *Corresponding author: dana.iclozan@ubbcluj.ro
  • Iulia F. POP Faculty of Animal Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbpsyped.2024.1.02

Keywords:

executive functions, performance-based measurements, self-assessment scales, depression, alcohol dependency

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to assess and compare executive functions in psychiatric inpatients (n=65) with those of a matched control group of healthy individuals (n=65). Both cohorts underwent rigorous evaluation using neuropsychological performance-based tests and self-assessment scales. Findings indicated a superior performance by the control group in both self-assessed and computerized evaluations. Notably, there was an absence of correlation between results from the performance-based test (Corsi) and self-assessments of executive function. Subsequent analysis focusing on primary diagnostic categories highlighted that patients diagnosed with depression consistently undervalued their performance in the self-assessment as opposed to the objective, computer-based evaluations. This undervaluation was observed across total scores and individual subscales. In contrast, patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence exhibited a tendency to overestimate their performance in self-assessments relative to the objective tests. The study investigates the causes of these observed differences and considers their implications for subsequent research and clinical practices.

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Published

2024-06-30

How to Cite

ICLOZAN, D. A., & POP, I. F. (2024). Executive Functions in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations. A Comparative Analysis. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Psychologia-Paedagogia, 69(1), 27–50. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbpsyped.2024.1.02

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