Examination of a Bifactor Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions

Although obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms are observed along four dimensions (contamination, responsibility for harm, order/symmetry, and unacceptable thoughts), the structure of the dimensions remains unclear. The current study evaluated a bifactor model of OC symptoms among those with and without obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The goals were (a) to evaluate if OC symptoms should be conceptualized as unidimensional or whether distinct dimensions should be interpreted and (b) to use structural equation modeling to examine the convergence of the OC dimensions above and beyond a general dimension with related criteria. Results revealed that a bifactor model fit the data well and that OC symptoms were influenced by a general dimension and by four dimensions. Measurement invariance of the bifactor model was also supported among those with and without OCD. However, the general OC dimension accounted for only half of the variability in OC symptoms, with the remaining variability accounted for by distinct dimensions. Despite evidence of multidimensionality, the dimensions were unreliable after covarying for the general OC dimension. However, the four dimensions did significantly converge with a latent OC spectrum factor above and beyond the general OC dimension. The implications of these findings for conceptualizing the structure of OCD are discussed.