Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale

The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) is a 20-item self-report instrument that assesses the severity of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms along four empirically supported theme-based dimensions: (a) contamination, (b) responsibility for harm and mistakes, (c) incompleteness/symmetry, and (d) unacceptable (taboo) thoughts.[1] The scale was developed in 2010 by a team of experts on OCD led by Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD to improve upon existing OCD measures and advance the assessment and understanding of OCD. The DOCS contains four subscales (corresponding to the four symptom dimensions) that have been shown to have good reliability, validity, diagnostic sensitivity, and sensitivity to treatment effects in a variety of settings cross-culturally and in different languages.[2][3][4][5] As such, the DOCS meets the needs of clinicians and researchers who wish to measure current OCD symptoms or assess changes in symptoms over time (e.g., over the course of treatment).[6]

Rationale

The DOCS was developed primarily because of the need for a measure of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms that maps on to empirically established OC symptom dimensions (or "subtypes") in a conceptually consistent manner. Research consistently finds that OC symptoms distill into the following theme-based dimensions:

A second aim of the DOCS was to address important drawbacks of widely used measures of OCD (such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale [YBOCS], Obsessive Compulsive Inventory [OCI and OCI-R][7] and Padua Inventory [PI and PI-R][8]).[1][9] The limitations of these instruments instruments include:

Accordingly, the DOCS:

Development, scoring, and evaluation

Development

Items for the DOCS were generated on the basis of research on the dimensionality of OCD symptoms[10] as well as on the parameters of OCD symptom severity.[12] After writing an initial draft of scale items and instructions, the DOCS authors obtained feedback regarding the clarity, reading level, and relevance of these materials from a larger group of (a) experts on OCD, (b) experts on scale development, and (c) people with OCD. Following the incorporation of input from these groups, the final product was a self-report instrument consisting of 20 items; five items for each of the four symptom dimensions (subscales) as described above: (a) contamination, (b) responsibility for harm, injury, or bad luck, (c) unacceptable obsessional thoughts, and (d) symmetry, completeness, and exactness. Hoarding was excluded for the reasons mentioned previously.

DOCS items were worded based on the research-supported idea that obsessions and compulsions are universal experiences, occurring in clinical and nonclinical individuals on a continuum of severity. This allows the DOCS to be viable in both clinical and nonclinical populations.

An analysis of the item reading level revealed that the DOCS is easily understandable for people aged 13–15 years and above or who read at about a 9th-grade level.[1]

Administration and scoring

Each of the four DOCS subscales begins with a general description and broad inclusive examples of the obsessions and compulsions within the particular symptom dimension. Respondents are next asked to consider any obsessions and compulsions within that symptom dimension that they have experienced within the last month and rate (on a scale from 0 [no symptoms] to 4 [extreme symptoms]) (a) the time occupied by obsessions and compulsions, (b) avoidance behavior, (c) associated distress, (d) functional interference, and (e) difficulty disregarding the obsessions and refraining from the compulsions. Thus, the DOCS subscales assesses the severity of the patient's own symptoms, rather than pre-defined symptoms as in most OCD measures. Within each subscale, the five item scores are summed to produce a subscale score (range = 0-20). The four subscale scores can be summed to produce an overall DOCS total score (range = 0-80).

A DOCS total score of 18 optimally distinguishes between someone with OCD and someone without a psychiatric diagnosis; while a score of 21 optimally distinguishes between someone with OCD and someone with an anxiety disorder.[1] As of this time, there are no empirically derived cutoff scores for mild, moderate, or severe OCD symptoms.

Psychometric evaluation

In the initial study describing the development and evaluation of the DOCS, the instrument's factorial validity was supported by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of 3 samples, including (a) individuals with OCD, (b) those with other anxiety disorders, and (c) non treatment-seeking individuals. Scores on the DOCS displayed excellent performance on indices of reliability (test-retest, internal consistency) and validity (convergent, divergent, construct), and the measure appears to be sensitive to treatment. The DOCS is also diagnostically sensitive and thus holds promise as a useful measure of OCD symptoms in clinical and research settings.[1]

The factor structure and psychometric properties of the DOCS have been examined in numerous studies in different cultures and languages,[2][3][4][5][15] and via different methods of administration.[16] Largely, these studies indicate that the scale's properties are consistent cross-culturally and regardless of how it is administered.

Uses and translations

Uses

As the DOCS was developed with both clinical and non-clinical samples,[1] it is suitable for use in service delivery settings as well as in research with both treatment-seeking and non-treatment-seeking samples. As it was developed and tested using adults, the DOCS is suitable for individuals age 18 and up. A version for those under 18 is currently in development.

As a self-report instrument, the DOCS requires no special skills to administer. However, interpretation of scores should be carried out by individuals with appropriate training in psychological science. When it is administered to people who have sought professional help, or who are displaying high levels of distress, interpretation should be carried out by appropriately qualified professionals such as a clinical psychologist.

The DOCS is widely used in clinical research on the nature of obsessions and compulsions.[17][18][19][20] It is also used in treatment outcome studies[21][22] as an measure to evaluate the effects of treatment for OCD.

Permission to use

The copyright for the DOCS belongs to Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD., yet the questionnaire is freely available and permission is not needed to use it. The DOCS may be downloaded and copied without restriction. It may also be distributed or made available electronically, with the restrictions that: (a) the items and instructions are not modified, (b) it is not sold for profit, (c) it is used for research or assessment in health settings, and (d) the DOCS is cited in research papers as follows:

Translations and downloads

The DOCS is now available in the following languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Italian, French, Icelandic, Swedish, German, Norwegian, and Portuguese. All available versions of the DOCS are free to download at https://docs.web.unc.edu/downloads-and-translations/.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Deacon, Brett J.; Olatunji, Bunmi O.; Wheaton, Michael G.; Berman, Noah C.; Losardo, Diane; Timpano, Kiara R.; McGrath, Patrick B.; Riemann, Bradley C. "Assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions: Development and evaluation of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale.". Psychological Assessment. 22 (1): 180–198. doi:10.1037/a0018260.
  2. 1 2 Kim, Hae Won; Kang, Jee In; Kim, Seung Jun; Jhung, Kyungun; Kim, Eun Joo; Kim, Se Joo. "A Validation Study of the Korean-Version of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale". Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 52 (3). doi:10.4306/jknpa.2013.52.3.130.
  3. 1 2 Melli, Gabriele; Chiorri, Carlo; Bulli, Francesco; Carraresi, Claudia; Stopani, Eleonora; Abramowitz, Jonathan (2014-08-03). "Factor Congruence and Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) Across Non-Clinical and Clinical Samples". Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 37 (2): 329–339. doi:10.1007/s10862-014-9450-1. ISSN 0882-2689.
  4. 1 2 López-Solà, Clara; Gutiérrez, Fernando; Alonso, Pino; Rosado, Silvia; Taberner, Joan; Segalàs, Cinto; Real, Eva; Menchón, José Manuel; Fullana, Miquel A. "Spanish version of the Dimensional Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (DOCS): Psychometric properties and relation to obsessive beliefs". Comprehensive Psychiatry. 55 (1): 206–214. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.08.015.
  5. 1 2 Ólafsson, Ragnar P.; Arngrímsson, Jóhann B.; Árnason, Páll; Kolbeinsson, Þráinn; Emmelkamp, Paul M.G.; Kristjánsson, Árni; Ólason, Daníel Þ. "The Icelandic version of the dimensional obsessive compulsive scale (DOCS) and its relationship with obsessive beliefs". Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. 2 (2): 149–156. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2013.02.001.
  6. Overduin, Mathilde K.; Furnham, Adrian. "Assessing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): A review of self-report measures". Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. 1 (4): 312–324. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2012.08.001.
  7. Foa, Edna B.; Huppert, Jonathan D.; Leiberg, Susanne; Langner, Robert; Kichic, Rafael; Hajcak, Greg; Salkovskis, Paul M. (2002-12-01). "The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory: development and validation of a short version". Psychological Assessment. 14 (4): 485–496. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.14.4.485. ISSN 1040-3590. PMID 12501574.
  8. "Padua Inventory" (PDF).
  9. Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Deacon, Brett J. (2006-01-01). "Psychometric properties and construct validity of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory--Revised: Replication and extension with a clinical sample". Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 20 (8): 1016–1035. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.03.001. ISSN 0887-6185. PMID 16621437.
  10. 1 2 3 McKay, Dean; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Calamari, John E.; Kyrios, Michael; Radomsky, Adam; Sookman, Debbie; Taylor, Steven; Wilhelm, Sabine (2004-07-01). "A critical evaluation of obsessive-compulsive disorder subtypes: symptoms versus mechanisms". Clinical Psychology Review. 24 (3): 283–313. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2004.04.003. ISSN 0272-7358. PMID 15245833.
  11. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Subtypes and Spectrum Conditions (1 ed.). Amsterdam; Boston: Elsevier Science. 2007-07-24. ISBN 9780080447018.
  12. 1 2 3 Deacon, Brett J.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S. (2005-01-01). "The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale: factor analysis, construct validity, and suggestions for refinement". Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 19 (5): 573–585. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2004.04.009. ISSN 0887-6185. PMID 15749574.
  13. DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association. 2013.
  14. Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Wheaton, Michael G.; Storch, Eric A. (2008-09-01). "The status of hoarding as a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 46 (9): 1026–1033. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2008.05.006. ISSN 1873-622X. PMID 18684434.
  15. "Psychometric validation of Dimensional Obsessive-compulsive Scale (DOCS) in Chinese college students".
  16. Enander, Jesper; Andersson, Erik; Kaldo, Viktor; Lindefors, Nils; Andersson, Gerhard; Rück, Christian. "Internet administration of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale: a psychometric evaluation". Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. 1 (4): 325–330. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2012.07.008.
  17. Raines, Amanda M.; Allan, Nicholas P.; Oglesby, Mary E.; Short, Nicole A.; Schmidt, Norman B. "Examination of the relations between obsessive–compulsive symptom dimensions and fear and distress disorder symptoms". Journal of Affective Disorders. 183: 253–257. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.05.013.
  18. Boeding, Sara E.; Paprocki, Christine M.; Baucom, Donald H.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S.; Wheaton, Michael G.; Fabricant, Laura E.; Fischer, Melanie S. (2013-06-01). "Let me check that for you: Symptom accommodation in romantic partners of adults with Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 51 (6): 316–322. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.03.002.
  19. Wheaton, Michael G.; Mahaffey, Brittain; Timpano, Kiara R.; Berman, Noah C.; Abramowitz, Jonathan S. "The relationship between anxiety sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions". Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 43 (3): 891–896. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.01.001.
  20. Viar, Megan A.; Bilsky, Sarah A.; Armstrong, Thomas; Olatunji, Bunmi O. (2011-03-10). "Obsessive Beliefs and Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Examination of Specific Associations". Cognitive Therapy and Research. 35 (2): 108–117. doi:10.1007/s10608-011-9360-4. ISSN 0147-5916.
  21. Wootton, Bethany M.; Dear, Blake F.; Johnston, Luke; Terides, Matthew D.; Titov, Nickolai. "Self-guided internet administered treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Results from two open trials". Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. 3 (2): 102–108. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2014.03.001.
  22. Chase, Tannah; Wetterneck, Chad T.; Bartsch, Robert A.; Leonard, Rachel C.; Riemann, Bradley C. (2015-09-03). "Investigating Treatment Outcomes Across OCD Symptom Dimensions in a Clinical Sample of OCD Patients". Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. 44 (5): 365–376. doi:10.1080/16506073.2015.1015162. ISSN 1650-6073. PMID 25715733.

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