Spanish version of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS): psychometric properties and relation to obsessive beliefs.

OBJECTIVES: Our main goal was to provide the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) in a non-clinical sample (n = 237) and in adult patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (n = 110). We also examined the association between OC symptom dimensions and obsessive beliefs. METHODS: The psychometric properties involved four steps: reliability, structural validity, convergent and discriminant validity and diagnostic sensitivity. Linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations between OC symptoms and obsessive beliefs. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses replicated the original four-factor structure in both samples. The DOCS showed good performance in terms of internal consistency, test-retest reliability and convergent validity in both samples. The DOCS showed better diagnostic sensitivity than another self-report instrument of OC symptoms, the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Revised. Findings of the relationship between obsessive beliefs and OC symptoms revealed that certain obsessive beliefs predicted specific OC symptom dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the DOCS has similar psychometric properties than the original English instrument, although its performance is somewhat better in OCD patients than in students. It will be important to ascertain its ability to discriminate OCD from other associated disorders.

Familial predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions (contamination/cleaning and symmetry/ordering) in a nonclinical sample.

INTRODUCTION: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous condition, which can be expressed as various symptom dimensions, including contamination/cleaning and symmetry/ordering. Previous research suggests that these obsessive-compulsive (OC) dimensions may show specific associations with certain traits such as disgust sensitivity and "not just right" experiences (NJREs), but whether a familial association between these variables exists is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to test whether parental disgust sensitivity and NJREs predicted contamination/cleaning and symmetry/ordering respectively in the offspring. METHOD: Contamination/cleaning, symmetry/ordering, disgust sensitivity, NJREs, and negative affect were assessed in a nonclinical sample (n = 184 triads comprising 184 female undergraduates and their parents). Associations between parental and offspring variables were investigated by means of bivariate correlations and multiple regression models, controlling for relevant variables. RESULTS: Neither disgust sensitivity nor NJREs in parents were significant predictors of contamination/cleaning or symmetry/ordering in the offspring. CONCLUSIONS: Combined with previous research, our results suggest that the best familial predictors of OC symptom dimensions are the same symptom dimensions themselves.

The Symptom Checklist-Revised (SCL-90-R) is able to discriminate between simulation and fibromyalgia.

This study assessed the ability of the Symptom Checklist-Revised (SCL-90-R) to discriminate between two groups of fibromyalgia patients (those who were about to begin a treatment including the explicit aim of returning to work and those who were initiating a legal procedure to obtain permanent disability compensation) and two groups of healthy volunteers (medical students and psychology graduates), who were asked to produce a symptomatic resemblance to a chronic pain disorder. Logistic regression analyses were applied to the SCL-90-R subscales and individual probabilistic indices of simulation were calculated. Results showed that the SCL-90-R was able to discriminate between healthy subjects and both groups of patients with a high sensitivity and specificity. The individual indices of simulation, which might be more useful in clinical practice than the comparison of the SCL-90-R profiles, also showed an appropriate level of accuracy.

Are obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions familial in nonclinical individuals?

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous condition, which can be expressed as various potentially overlapping symptom dimensions. In clinical samples, some of these dimensions are associated with increased familial risk for OCD and appear to be familial (intercorrelated within pairs of affected family members), whereas others are not. The goal of this study was to determine whether obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom dimensions are familial in a nonclinical sample. METHODS: OC symptom dimensions and negative affect were assessed in 184 female undergraduate students and their parents using the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) and the Positive and Negative Affect Scales, respectively. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression models controlling for age and negative affect were employed to examine the familiarity of OC symptom dimensions. RESULTS: The OCI-R total scores were significantly correlated in both mother-daughter and father-daughter dyads but the magnitude of these correlations tended to be greater for the mother-daughter dyads. Multiple regression models showed that the Ordering and Hoarding subscales of the OCI-R breed true in mother-daughter dyads. Ordering scores in mothers were also predictive of other symptoms in the daughters (Washing and Checking). CONCLUSIONS: These results are broadly consistent with the findings in clinical samples and suggest that Ordering and Hoarding are more strongly familial than other symptom dimensions and that high Ordering scores in mothers are associated with increased levels of symptoms in daughters in a less specific manner.

Temporal stability of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions in an undergraduate sample: a prospective 2-year follow-up study.

The temporal stability of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions was studied in a nonclinical student sample. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory--Revised was administered twice to 132 undergraduate students during a 2-year period. There were no significant changes in symptom dimension scores between the baseline and follow-up, except for the Obsessing scale. The score of each dimension at follow-up was strongly and uniquely predicted from the score on the same dimension at baseline. The results indicate that obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions tend to be temporally stable in nonclinical participants, replicating similar studies in clinical populations.