Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in A Non-clinical Population

Abstract

Objective: Measuring, diagnosing, and determining the severity of the symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is essential for studying mental health issues. This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) in a non-clinical population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 252 residents of Tehran (Iran) were selected by cluster sampling method from different districts. They were asked to complete DOCS, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). SPSS v. 21 and LISREL statistical software were used for data analysis. Cronbach's alpha, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Spearman correlation were also used. Results: The Internal consistency of DOCS was 0.916 based on the Cronbach α value. The correlations of DOCS with Y-BOCS and OCI-R were 0.57 and 0.55, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis showed four factors. Confirmatory factor analysis also showed that this four-factor and higher-order factor models had a good fit for the data. Conclusion: The present study indicated acceptable validity and reliability of DOCS in non-clinical populations in Iran. Therefore, this scale be used to screen people with OCD symptoms in non-clinical centers of mental health assessment.