Sensory Overresponsivity and Symptoms Across the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum: Web-Based Longitudinal Observational...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Sensory overresponsivity (SOR) is a potential endophenotype in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Limited research has explored SOR's relationship with OCD symptom dimensions and the broader obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom spectrum.
• Understanding this link is crucial for a comprehensive view of OC-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the psychometric properties of the SOR Scales in a Spanish adolescent and adult sample.
• To investigate the relationship between SOR difficulties and symptoms across the full OC spectrum, including heterogeneity.
• To validate a web-based assessment tool for SOR.

Main Methods:

• Translated and adapted the SOR Scales into a web-based Spanish version.
• Recruited 1454 adolescents and adults, with 388 completing the survey twice for test-retest reliability.
• Administered a web-based measure assessing various OC spectrum symptoms (e.g., checking, hoarding, body dysmorphic).

Main Results:

• The Spanish web-based SOR Scales demonstrated excellent psychometric properties and adequate test-retest reliability.
• All types of SOR were significantly associated with all major OCD symptom dimensions.
• SOR showed a strong relationship with all assessed OC spectrum symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Web-based assessment of SOR across sensory modalities is valid and reliable.
• SOR functions as a transdiagnostic phenomenon across the OC spectrum.
• Further research should explore the temporal relationship between SOR and OC symptoms to understand causality.