Taboo thoughts and doubt/checking: a refinement of the factor structure for obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Factor Analysis

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom classification requires refinement.
• Previous factor analyses have shown heterogeneity, particularly within aggressive obsessions.
• Improving symptom categorization aids in understanding OCD phenomenology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance earlier factor analyses of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom categories.
• To minimize heterogeneity within the aggressive obsessions category.
• To identify more phenomenologically homogeneous symptom factors in OCD.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory factor analysis was performed.
• Data were collected from 293 adults diagnosed with primary OCD.
• Item-level data were analyzed to refine symptom categories.

Main Results:

• A five-factor solution emerged: Symmetry/Ordering, Hoarding, Doubt/Checking, Contamination/Cleaning, and Taboo Thoughts.
• These factors demonstrated greater phenomenological homogeneity compared to previous category-based factors.
• The findings align with results from prior item-level analyses of OCD symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The proposed five-factor model offers a more refined structure for OCD symptoms.
• This improved categorization enhances the understanding of OCD heterogeneity.
• The results support the utility of item-level analysis for OCD symptom research.