The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale: Development and Validation of a Short Form (DOCS-SF)

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Accurate measurement of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms is crucial for clinical practice and research.
• The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Short Form (DOCS-SF) is a recently developed tool for assessing OCD.
• Validation of the DOCS-SF in diverse populations is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the DOCS-SF.
• To evaluate the reliability, validity, and diagnostic utility of the DOCS-SF.
• To establish a potential cut-off score for the DOCS-SF.

Main Methods:

• The study involved adults with OCD (n=204) and a community comparison group (n=211).
• Psychometric properties including internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity were assessed.
• Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and treatment sensitivity were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The DOCS-SF demonstrated good internal consistency and convergent validity.
• Evidence for discriminant validity was mixed.
• The scale showed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, with a suggested cut-off score of 16.
• Treatment sensitivity was also supported.

Conclusions:

• The DOCS-SF is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing OCD symptoms in individuals diagnosed with OCD and in non-clinical individuals.
• The findings align with previous research on the original DOCS scale.
• The DOCS-SF is suitable for both clinical and research applications in assessing OCD severity.