Table 1.

Diagnostic criteria for disorder of the executive function of the brain administratively defined by the Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities, The Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities^2,3)

Major symptoms The fact of the accident or the presence of the disease that causes brain injuries is evident. Daily family and/or social lives are limited by cognitive impairments in memory, attention, execution, and/or behavior. Examinations Organic brain lesions are revealed by CT, MRI, electroencephalogram, and/or other neuroimaging modalities, or its presence can be verified in medical records or certificates described at the acute/subacute phase. Exclusion criteria Cognitive symptoms which can be accounted as symptoms (e.g. aphasia/dysphasia) due to which persons can be issued a Certificate for Physical Disability, other than major cognitive symptoms described above (article I-2), are excluded. Major cognitive symptoms described above (article I-2) which have already been seen before the accident or the presence of the disease are excluded. Major cognitive symptoms described above (article I-2) due to congenital disorders, perinatal brain injuries, developmental disorders, and/or progressive diseases are excluded. Diagnosis The diagnosis should be made when articles I, II, and III described above are all fulfilled. The diagnosis should be made at the chronic phase (6 months or more after the accident or the presence of the disease that causes organic brain lesions). Neuro-psychological examinations can be referred to for the diagnosis.