Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between neurocognitive (i.e.,
executive functioning, working memory, and processing speed) and psychiatric (depression and
anxiety) late effects among survivors of childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
Participants included 53 patients (35 male, 18 female) with a mean age of 11 years old at the
time of the neuropsychological evaluation. Participants were patients referred by their treating
physician for neuropsychological services following treatment of chemotherapy only or
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Executive functioning was measured using the Behavior
Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2; Gioia et al., 2015);
processing speed and working memory was measuring using select subtests from the Wechsler
Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V; Wechsler, 2014); and depression and
anxiety were measured using the Depression and Anxiety subscales on the Behavior Assessment
System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2015). Results from the
path analyses provided statistical support for the relationship between overall executive
functioning and parent-reported depression and anxiety. There was support for the relationship
between processing speed (PSI Index) and parent-reported depression and processing speed
(Coding subtest) and self-reported depression. There was no support for working memory and
parent-reported or self-reported depression or anxiety. The results direct future considerations for
early intervention and screening.
