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The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale: A Reliability Generalization Meta-Analysis.
José Antonio López-Pina1, Julio Sánchez-Meca2, José Antonio López-López1
1Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Assessment
|October 1, 2014
Summary
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) demonstrates strong reliability for assessing obsessive compulsive symptoms. A meta-analysis confirmed its average reliability and identified factors influencing its precision in clinical and non-clinical populations.
Area of Science:
- Psychological assessment
- Psychometrics
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is the gold standard for measuring obsessive compulsive symptoms.
- Understanding the reliability of the Y-BOCS across diverse studies is crucial for accurate clinical assessment and research.
- Previous assessments of Y-BOCS reliability have not comprehensively addressed variability and moderating factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a reliability generalization meta-analysis of the Y-BOCS.
- To estimate the average reliability of the Y-BOCS and quantify the variability in reported reliability estimates.
- To identify moderators influencing Y-BOCS reliability and develop a predictive model for expected reliability.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search identified 144 studies meeting inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis.
- Reliability estimates (coefficient alpha, test-retest, intraclass correlation) were extracted from eligible studies.
- Moderator analyses were performed to investigate factors influencing reliability, including population type (clinical vs. non-clinical) and test characteristics.
Main Results:
- The overall mean reliability for the Y-BOCS was high: 0.866 for coefficient alpha, 0.848 for test-retest correlations, and 0.922 for intraclass correlations.
- Moderator analyses revealed that the standard deviation of the total test score and the nature of the target population explained 38.6% of the variability in coefficient alpha.
- The findings support the Y-BOCS's robust psychometric properties across various applications.
Conclusions:
- The Y-BOCS exhibits consistently high reliability, making it a dependable tool for assessing obsessive compulsive symptoms.
- A predictive model incorporating population characteristics and test score variability can aid researchers and clinicians in anticipating Y-BOCS reliability.
- These findings underscore the Y-BOCS's utility and provide guidance for its application in diverse research and clinical settings.