Dynamics of Executive Functions in Depressed Child

Abstract

The present study aimed at identifying the dynamics of executive functions in depressed child. The study sample consisted of (30) students in the ffth grade primary school who ranged in age from (10- 11) years. They were divided equally into two groups depressed and normal. The clinical study consisted of )5( females suffering from depression. The study used child depression inventory translated by ElTaib )2015(, Cognitive Assessment System )CAS( translated by Shosha )2006(, Bender visual motor Gestalt test translated by Khatab & Marwa Fathi )2016( and the Rorschach Test. The study has found no signifcant differences between depressed and non-depressed students in planning, attention, simultaneity, succession. The study has found that the dynamics of executive functions in depressed child can be detected through Bender and the Rorschach Test and the executive functions contains cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses. The results of the two tests confrmed that the functions of organizing, planning, attention, simultaneity, succession were normal among depressed children, but the defcit was in the functions of fexibility and emotional control.