(PS6-40) Psychometric properties of common self-report measures for obsessive-compulsive disorder in sexual and gender minorities

Abstract Text: Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) appears to be higher in sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals compared to cisgender, heterosexual individuals. Although existing self-report measures for OCD (i.e., Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Self-Report-II-Self Report [Y-BOCS-II-SR], Dimensional Obsessive Compulsive Scale [DOCS], and Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-Short Form [OBQ-SF]) have demonstrated strong psychometric properties in prior samples, these studies have not reported the proportion of SGM individuals in their samples. Thus, it remains unclear how these measures perform when used with SGM individuals. Accordingly, the psychometric properties of the Y-BOCS-II-SR, DOCS, and OBQ-SF were examined in a sample of 318 sexual minority (98.4%) and gender minority (33.8%) adults with self-reported OCD (Mage = 27.5 years; 87.4% female sex at birth; 93.4% white). The Y-BOCS-II-SR demonstrated strong internal consistency (Obsessions α = 0.83; Compulsions α = 0.88; Total α = 0.92), construct validity with the DOCS (r = 0.68) and OBQ-SR (r = 0.37), and scores ranged from 0 – 49 (M = 22.52, SD = 8.80). The DOCS demonstrated strong internal consistency (Contamination α = 0.95; Responsibility for Harm α = 0.93; Unacceptable Thoughts α = 0.92; Symmetry α = 0.95; Total α = 0.92), construct validity with the Y-BOCS-II-SR and OBQ-SF (r = 0.52), and scores ranged from 0 – 68 (M = 25.74, SD = 14.30). The OBQ-SF demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Perfectionism/Intolerance of Uncertainty α = 0.81; Responsibility and Harm α = 0.78; Importance and Control α = 0.80; Total α = 0.85), adequate construct validity with the Y-BOCS-II-SR and DOCS, and scores ranged from 11 – 63 (M = 33.51, SD = 9.93). Three ANOVAs conducted on Y-BOCS-II-SR, DOCS, and OBQ-SF subscales indicated that gender minority individuals reported more severe Y-BOCS-II-SR Obsessions (F[277, 1] = 14.25, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.05), Y-BOCS-II-SR Compulsions (F[260, 1] = 11.88, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.04), DOCS Contamination (F[235, 1] = 7.84, p = .01, ηp2 = 0.03), DOCS Responsibility for Harm (F[233, 1] = 5.64, p = .02, ηp2 = 0.02), DOCS Unacceptable Thoughts (F[231, 1] = 6.92, p = .01, ηp2 = 0.03), and DOCS Symmetry (F[230, 1] = 7.11, p = .01, ηp2 = 0.03) compared to cisgender individuals; no differences in OBQ-SF subscales were observed between gender minority and cisgender individuals. Overall, these measures appear to be psychometrically sound when used with SGM individuals, and the few psychometric weaknesses found in the present study parallel those found in other samples, suggesting that they are not specific to use with SGM individuals. Findings support that the Y-BOCS-II- SR, DOCS, and OBQ- SF can be accurately used and interpreted in samples that are comprised of SGM individuals.