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Psychometric Properties of the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms

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Abstract

The psychometric properties of the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) were investigated in 46 treatment-seeking youth, 7–15 years of age, who were diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and exhibited obsessive–compulsive symptoms. The CY-BOCS Total score exhibited good internal consistency, with differing internal consistencies observed on the Obsession Severity scale (α = 0.86) and Compulsion Severity scale (α = 0.59). Good to excellent inter-rater reliability was observed for the CY-BOCS Total score and both Severity scales. Convergent and divergent validity of the CY-BOCS Total score and both Severity scales were satisfactory. Insight into obsessive–compulsive symptoms was moderately associated with the CY-BOCS Total score. The CY-BOCS demonstrated treatment sensitivity, demonstrating significant changes in obsessive–compulsive symptoms within a subsample of youth receiving cognitive-behavioral treatment. Overall, the CY-BOCS demonstrated adequate psychometric properties and utility in assessing obsessive–compulsive symptoms in youth with ASD and clinically significant obsessive–compulsive symptoms.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Anna M. Jones, B.S., P. Jane Mutch, Ph.D., and Amy Parks, Ph.D. for their contributions. We would also like to thank the families for their participation. This study was supported by grants awarded to the last author from the All Children’s Hospital Research Foundation and University of South Florida Internal Grants Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida, 880 6th Street South, Suite 460, Box 7523, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

    Monica S. Wu

  2. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Monica S. Wu, Joseph F. McGuire & Eric A. Storch

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Joseph F. McGuire, Elysse B. Arnold, Adam B. Lewin, Tanya K. Murphy & Eric A. Storch

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Adam B. Lewin, Tanya K. Murphy & Eric A. Storch

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  1. Monica S. Wu
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  2. Joseph F. McGuire
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  3. Elysse B. Arnold
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  4. Adam B. Lewin
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Correspondence to Monica S. Wu.

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Wu, M.S., McGuire, J.F., Arnold, E.B. et al. Psychometric Properties of the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 45, 201–211 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0392-8

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