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Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale
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About Scale Name
Scale Name
Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale
Author Details
Jonathan S. Abramowitz
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) was developed in response to the limitations of existing OCD symptom measures. The most commonly used OCD symptom measure, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), assesses the overall severity of OCD symptoms, but it does not provide information about the specific types of obsessions and compulsions that a person experiences. This can make it difficult to tailor treatment to the individual’s needs.
The DOCS was designed to address these limitations by assessing the severity of OCD symptoms along four empirically supported theme-based dimensions:
Contamination:
- Obsessions about being contaminated by germs, dirt, or other substances
- Compulsions to wash, clean, or avoid contact with contaminated objects or people
Responsibility for harm and mistakes
- Obsessions about causing harm to oneself or others, or about making mistakes that will have serious consequences
- Compulsions to check things repeatedly, to ask for reassurance, or to avoid situations where harm or mistakes could occur
Incompleteness/symmetry
- Obsessions about things being incomplete or not done perfectly
- Compulsions to repeat actions or to arrange things in a certain way
Unacceptable thoughts
- Obsessions about having taboo or immoral thoughts
- Compulsions to do things to try to get rid of the thoughts, such as praying, counting, or repeating words
The DOCS has been shown to have good psychometric properties, including good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It has also been shown to be sensitive to change over the course of treatment.
The DOCS can be a helpful tool for clinicians to assess the severity of OCD symptoms and to track progress over time. It can also be used by individuals with OCD to self-monitor their symptoms.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) is a self-report instrument that can be administered by a clinician or by the individual with OCD. The DOCS is available in English, Spanish, and Norwegian.
To administer the DOCS, the individual will read each item and rate how much they are bothered by the symptom described. The rating scale ranges from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). There are 20 items on the DOCS, and each item is scored separately. The total score for the DOCS can range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.
The DOCS can be administered in a single session. It takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Here are the steps on how to administer the DOCS:
- Introduce the DOCS to the individual. Explain that the DOCS is a self-report instrument that is used to assess the severity of OCD symptoms.
- Read each item to the individual. The individual should rate how much they are bothered by the symptom described.
- Score each item. The scoring instructions are provided on the DOCS.
- Sum the scores for each subscale. There are four subscales on the DOCS: contamination, responsibility for harm and mistakes, incompleteness/symmetry, and unacceptable thoughts.
- Calculate the total score. The total score for the DOCS is the sum of the scores for all four subscales.
Reliability and Validity
The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) has been shown to have good reliability and validity.
- Reliability refers to the consistency of the DOCS. There are two types of reliability: internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
- Internal consistency refers to the extent to which the items on the DOCS measure the same thing. The DOCS has good internal consistency, with an alpha coefficient of 0.93. This means that the items on the DOCS are all measuring the same thing, which is the severity of OCD symptoms.
- Test-retest reliability refers to the extent to which the DOCS produces the same score when it is administered twice to the same person over a short period of time. The DOCS has good test-retest reliability, with a correlation coefficient of 0.86. This means that the DOCS is consistent over time, and it is likely to produce the same score if it is administered again to the same person within a few weeks.
- Validity refers to the extent to which the DOCS measures what it is supposed to measure. The DOCS has been shown to have good validity.
- Concurrent validity refers to the extent to which the DOCS correlates with other measures of OCD. The DOCS has good concurrent validity with other OCD measures, such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). This means that the DOCS is measuring the same thing as other OCD measures.
- Construct validity refers to the extent to which the DOCS measures the theorized constructs of OCD. The DOCS has good construct validity. This means that the DOCS is measuring the different dimensions of OCD that are theorized to exist.
- Predictive validity refers to the extent to which the DOCS can predict future outcomes, such as treatment response. The DOCS has good predictive validity. This means that the DOCS can be used to predict how well someone will respond to treatment for OCD.
Available Versions
20-Items
Reference
Abramowitz, J. S., Deacon, B. J., Olatunji, B. O., Wheaton, M. G., Berman, N. C., Losardo, D., … & Solem, S. (2010). Development and validation of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Psychological Assessment, 22(1), 180-198.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DOCS?
The DOCS is a 20-item self-report instrument that assesses the severity of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms along four empirically supported theme-based dimensions.
How is the DOCS scored?
Each item on the DOCS is rated on a scale of 0 to 4, with 0 indicating “not at all” and 4 indicating “extremely.” The total score can range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.
What is the cut-off score for the DOCS?
The cut-off score for the DOCS is 18. This means that a score of 18 or higher indicates that someone has OCD.
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