Assessing Sexual Orientation–Related Obsessions and Compulsions in Italian Heterosexual Individuals: Development and Validation of the Sexual Orientation Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (SO-OCS). Issue 4 (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melli, Gabriele; Moulding, Richard; Gelli, Simona; Chiorri, Carlo; Pinto, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Behavior therapy. Volume 47:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 431
• Page End: 443
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: obsessive-compulsive disorder -- sexual orientation -- obsessions -- assessment; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 616.8914205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2016.03.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7894

Abstract

Abstract: Sexual Orientation–Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (SO-OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts, images, and urges related to one's sexual orientation, and by consequent avoidance, reassurance seeking, and overt and covert compulsions. Currently there is no short self-report measure that assesses SO-OCD symptoms. The current article describes two studies that develop and evaluate the first version of the Sexual Orientation Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (SO-OCS), a 14-item Italian self-report measure targeted towards heterosexual individuals. In Study 1, the SO-OCS was developed and refined through item analysis and exploratory factor analysis from an initial pool of 33 items administered to 732 Italian nonclinical participants. The SO-OCS showed a unidimensional structure and an acceptable internal consistency. In Study 2, the factor structure, internal consistency, temporal stability, construct and criterion validity, and diagnostic sensitivity of the SO-OCS were investigated in three samples of Italian participants (294 from the general population, 52 OCD patients who reported sexual orientation-related symptoms or concerns as a primary complaint, and 51 OCD patients who did not report these symptoms as primary complaint). The SO-OCS was again found to have a unidimensional structure and good internal consistency, as well as to exhibit strong construct validity. Specifically, the SO-OCS showed an excellent criterion validity and diagnostic sensitivity, as it successfully discriminated between those with SO-OCD and all other groups of participants. Finally, evidence of temporal stability of the SO-OCS in a nonclinical subsample was found. The SO-OCS holds promise as a measure of SO-OCD symptoms in heterosexual individuals. Highlights: The study developed and validated the Sexual Orientation Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (SO-OCS) The SO-OCS was refined through item analysis and exploratory factor analysis in a large non-clinical sample Factor structure, reliability, validity and diagnostic sensitivity were then investigated in non-clinical and clinical samples Evidence of an unidimensional structure and adequate reliability and validity was found In particular, the SO-OCS had excellent criterion validity and diagnostic sensitivity