Rehabilitation and management of executive function disorders

Abstract

Executive function disorders arise from damage to brain areas mediating complex aspects of human behavior, including self-regulation, social cognition, planning, and organization. These functions are especially necessary to everyday adaptation, independence, and productivity. Executive function disorders have multiple causes and are expressed through different patterns of cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral impairment. Treatment approaches target specific symptoms, especially in attention, working memory, problem solving, social cognition, and self-control of behavior and emotions. Interventions draw upon behavioral training, compensatory processing techniques, self-awareness and metacognitive training, environmental aids, and medications along with family/caregiver education. The evidence base for identifying effective treatments is promising but remains limited with a need to broaden the focus on real world functional outcomes.