Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Y-BOCS
Measures the severity and type of symptoms in individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Y-BOCS was developed by Wayne K. Goodman, Lawrence H. Price, Steven A. Rasmussen (1989). It is designed to measure Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Severity. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Obsessions, Compulsions.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Obsessions | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 |
| Compulsions | 6,7,8,9,10 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = None / Complete control / Always resist, 1 = Mild / Much control / Try to resist most of the time, 2 = Moderate / Some control / Make some effort to resist, 3 = Severe / Little control / Reluctantly yield, 4 = Extreme / No control / Completely and willingly yield.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 40. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subclinical: 0 – 7
- Mild: 8 – 15
- Moderate: 16 – 23
- Severe: 24 – 31
- Extreme: 32 – 40
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Strong internal consistency for the symptom checklist and severity scale.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.