Validating an abbreviated version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire

A shorter version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44) is needed to promote the use of this measure in research and increase our understanding of cognitive phenomena maintaining obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Additionally, an abbreviated version of the OBQ-44 would encourage frequent monitoring of dysfunctional beliefs in intensive care settings. This study aimed to validate a nine-item version of the questionnaire (OBQ-9).

Participants seeking intensive/residential treatment for OCD (N = 311) completed relevant measures on a weekly basis and at admission and discharge.

A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the OBQ-9's factor structure replicated the three-factor solution of the OBQ-44. The OBQ-9 demonstrated good psychometric properties and convergent validity and was sensitive to treatment effects. Finally, the OBQ-9 subscales predicted specific OCD dimensions over and above depressive symptoms.

The OBQ-9 appears to be a psychometrically sound tool for routine outcome monitoring of dysfunctional beliefs in hospital-based settings.