It is well known that executive functions are impaired in individuals with anxiety and mood disorders, and that such impairments remain even after successful treatments for such these disorders. Results from some studies suggest that executive function difficulties may even be present before the onset of anxiety and mood disorders and play a role in their development and maintenance. Moreover, complete remission of anxiety and depressive symptoms is not always observed after treatment, and performance on tests that measure executive functions is influenced by one's affective state (stress, fatigue, etc.).

On the other hand, other conditions are typically associated with executive dysfunction and/or can lead to such impairments (e.g. ADHD, autism, traumatic brain injury, and medical conditions such as phenylketonuria (PKU), MS, diabetes, etc.) To complicate matters even more, psychiatric disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression) and general stress, fatigue, etc. are often comorbid to such medical conditions.

That being said, are there measures, specific executive dysfunctions or deficit patterns that can help differentiate executive function difficulties primarily related to psychiatric disorders/affective state from executive function difficulties that are more primarily related to another medical and/or neurological conditions (especially in individuals who present (or may present) with such comorbidity)?

Thank you in advance!