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Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale

Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale

What is DOCS

The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) is a 20-item self-report measure of the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (usually associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD). There are many different types of obsessions and compulsions, and the DOCS assesses the severity of the most common clusters or dimensions of these symptoms: (a) contamination obsessions and de-contamination rituals (e.g., hand washing), (b) obsessions about responsibility for harm and mistakes and checking rituals, (c) symmetry/ordering and completeness obsessions and compulsions, and (d) obsessions about taboo or repugnant topics such as sex, violence, and blasphemy. Items on the DOCS measure the following parameters of these four symptom types: frequency of obsessions and compulsions, associated avoidance behavior, associated distress, and functional interference.

DOCS Printable PDF

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DOCS Scoring and Interpretation

The DOCS contains 4 subscales. Each subscale contains 5 items which are rated from 0 to 4. You can use the individual subscale scores (5 items) or the total score (all 20 items). The DOCS is scored by simply summing the scores of each item within each of the four subscales. The total score is the sum of all 20 items.

A DOCS total score of 21 correctly classifies about 70% of OCD patients from those with other anxiety disorders and is probably the best “cutoff score” to use to distinguish someone with OCD from someone with another anxiety disorder.

A total score of 18 correctly classifies about 78% of OCD patients from non-clinical individuals and is probably the best “cutoff score” to use to distinguish someone with OCD from someone without other another psychological disorder. In other words, it is 78% likely that someone scoring over 18 would meet the diagnostic criteria for OCD.

A DOCS total score of 21 correctly classifies about 70% of OCD patients from those with other anxiety disorders and is probably the best “cutoff score” to use to distinguish someone with OCD from someone with another anxiety disorder.

A total score of 18 correctly classifies about 78% of OCD patients from non-clinical individuals and is probably the best “cutoff score” to use to distinguish someone with OCD from someone without other another psychological disorder. In other words, it is 78% likely that someone scoring over 18 would meet the diagnostic criteria for OCD.

PsyPack can automatically score the DOCS assessment and prepare corresponding tables and graphs.

DOCS sample result

Further, PsyPack automatically plots a graph to help you easily track progress over time.

DOCS track progress

Sample Report of DOCS

Domain

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What does DOCS measure

The purpose of the evaluation is to:

  • assess the severity of the four best supported OC symptom dimensions (Contamination, Responsibility for Harm and Mistakes, Symmetry/Incompleteness, and Unacceptable Thoughts),
  • measure symptom severity as a function of empirically supported parameters (including avoidance behavior), and
  • provide an index of severity that is independent of the types of obsessions and compulsions present.

Administration

Self-administered

Type of outcome tool

Clinical

Assessment modes

Questionnaire

Age and eligibility

Adults

Estimated time

About 5 minutes

Notes

Since the questionnaire relies on client self-report, all responses should be verified by the clinician, and a definitive diagnosis is made on clinical grounds taking into account how well the client understood the questionnaire, as well as other relevant information from the client.

The Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) is a 20-item self-report measure of the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (usually associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD). The scale was developed and tested over the course of 5 years (2005 – 2010) and has been translated into a dozen languages as of January 2018.

There are many different types of obsessions and compulsions, and the DOCS assesses the severity of the most common clusters or dimensions of these symptoms: (a) contamination obsessions and de-contamination rituals (e.g., hand washing), (b) obsessions about responsibility for harm and mistakes and checking rituals, (c) symmetry/ordering and completeness obsessions and compulsions, and (d) obsessions about taboo or repugnant topics such as sex, violence, and blasphemy. Items on the DOCS measure the following parameters of these four symptom types: frequency of obsessions and compulsions, associated avoidance behavior, associated distress, and functional interference.

The DOCS takes about 5 minutes to complete and research shows that it has excellent reliability and validity as a measure of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in people with OCD, with other psychological disorders, and in non-clinical/non-treatment-seeking individuals.

An analysis of the reading level of the DOCS revealed that the DOCS is easily understandable for people aged 13–15 years and above or who read at about a 9th-grade level.

Attribution and References

© 2009 by Jonathan S. Abramowitz

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