Internet administration of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale: a psychometric evaluation

Abstract

The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) was designed to address the current limitations of existing obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom measures and is a self-report questionnaire that assesses the severity of the four most empirically supported OC symptom dimensions. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the DOCS when administered via the Internet. Internal consistency, factor structure, and convergent and discriminant validity were examined in a sample consisting of 101 patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The DOCS sensitivity to treatment effects were examined in a sample consisting of 48 patients treated with Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy were the main intervention was exposure with response prevention. Results showed that the internal consistency was high. The DOCS also showed adequate convergent and discriminant validity, as well as fair sensitivity to treatment effects. The factor analysis supported the DOCS four-factor solution. In summary, the results from the present study give initial support that the DOCS can be administered via the Internet with adequate psychometric properties.