Skin Picking Scale-Revised: Diagnostic accuracy and optimal cut-off scores in university and psychiatric settings

Abstract

The Skin Picking Scale-Revised (SPS-R) is an eight-item self-report measure of skin picking disorder (SPD) severity. The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the SPS-R and develop cut-off scores in university and psychiatric settings. We administered the SPS-R to (1) university students with SPD (n = 73) and without SPD (n = 148) and (2) patients in a psychiatric partial hospital with SPD (n = 50) and without SPD (n = 403). Scores on the SPS-R accurately predicted SPD diagnostic status in both samples (area under the curve >0.95). A total score of 9 demonstrated an optimal balance between sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values in both samples. The results suggests that SPS-R has acceptable diagnostic accuracy and can be used as a screening tool to help identify individuals with SPD for research purposes in university and partial hospital settings.