The Children's Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale: Clinician versus self-report format in adolescents in a residential treatment facility

The Children's Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY–BOCS) is a widely used measure of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom severity in youth. Although originally designed as a clinician-administered measure, recent research suggests that a self-report version may be a reliable alternative, especially in settings where frequent assessment of OCD severity is needed. However, the clinical utility of the self-report version has only been examined in outpatient samples. The current study compared self-report (CY–BOCS-SR) and clinician interview (CY–BOCS) formats in a sample of adolescents admitting for residential OCD treatment. Participants were 35 adolescents (N=20 males; 91.4% Caucasian, 5.7% bi-racial) with a mean age of 15.6 years (SD=1.12, range=14–17 years). Results showed a significant, positive correlation between CY–BOCS versions. However, scores were significantly higher on the CY–BOCS, and an order effect was observed, such that participants who completed the CY–BOCS-SR first demonstrated a stronger correlation with the CY–BOCS than those who completed these measures in the reverse order. Results suggest that the CY–BOCS-SR may be a useful indicator of OCD severity but should not entirely replace clinician-administered assessment.

► Self-report and clinician-interview CY–BOCS were compared in adolescents with severe OCD.
► Results showed a significant, positive correlation between CY–BOCS versions.
► Scores were significantly higher on clinician CY–BOCS, and an order effect was found.
► The self-report CY–BOCS is clinically useful in assessing OCD severity in adolescents.