Validation of the short version of the obsessive compulsive spectrum questionnaire

IQ and socio-occupational functioning in relation to obsessive-compulsive symptoms severity in a clinical sample of adolescents

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often comorbid with other psychiatric conditions, leading to severely impaired functioning and poor quality of life. Until now, the relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and functioning has been studied mainly through a categorical approach (i.e., presence/absence of the disorder), leaving more dimensional analyses almost unexplored. Therefore, the present study investigates the association between OCS and both intellectual functioning (IQ) and socio-occupational functioning across different levels of OCS severity. 341 help-seeking adolescents (65% female, mean age = 15.37 years, SD = 1.37) with different psychopathologies underwent an in-depth clinical examination using the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS), through which OCS were also evaluated, and the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia - Present and Lifetime - DSM-5 (K-SADS-PL). Cognitive functioning was assessed using a full IQ test (WISC-IV or WAIS-IV), and socio-occupational functioning was assessed using the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). A negative quadratic curvilinear (i.e. inverted U-shape) relationship was found between OCS severity and IQ (β=-1.11, p < .05), and a negative linear relationship was observed between OCS severity and socio-occupational functioning (β=-1.32, p < .01). While the association with IQ remained significant after controlling for sociodemographic variables and psychopathology symptoms (β=-0.471, p = .005), the association with socio-occupational functioning did not (β=-0.034, p = .487). These results indicate that OCS are differentially associated with IQ depending on their severity within the adolescent psychiatric population. In particular, mild OCS appear to be associated with a higher IQ relative to no OCS or severe OCS.

Autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders: beyond the comorbidity

OBJECTIVE

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by high rates of comorbidity with other mental disorders, including anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Beyond a mere concept of comorbidity, recent literature is speculating the existence of a neurodevelopmental nature of such mental disorders. The aim of the study is to investigate the distribution of social-phobic, obsessive-compulsive and panic-agoraphobic traits within a sample of individuals with ASD, social anxiety disorder (SAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder (PD).

METHODS

40 participants with ASD, 40 with SAD, 40 with OCD, 40 with PD and 50 HC were assessed with the Social Anxiety Spectrum-Short Version (SHY-SV) questionnaire, the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum-Short Version (OBS-SV) questionnaire and the Panic Agoraphobic Spectrum-Short Version (PAS-SV) questionnaire. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis test and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

When analyzing SHY-SV scores, the SAD group obtained the highest scores, with individuals with ASD following closely, significantly surpassing the scores of the remaining diagnostic groups. In the examination of OBS-SV questionnaire scores, individuals with ASD once again secured the second-highest scores, trailing only the OCD group. These scores were notably higher than those of both the PD group and healthy controls. In the analysis of PAS-SV scores, the ASD group once again achieved the highest scores after the PD individuals, although this time the difference was not statistically significant compared to the other diagnostic groups.

DISCUSSION

These findings highlight the central role of the autism spectrum in SAD and OCD diagnoses. They provide support for the hypotheses of a neurodevelopmental basis for social anxiety and OCD, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting a dimensional and interconnected view of mental health conditions.

Obsessive-Compulsive Traits and Problematic Internet Use Are Increased Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There a Role of Obsessive Doubts and Communication Impairment?

BACKGROUND

The link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the complexity of their differential diagnosis has been vastly investigated. Growing attention has been paid to the presence of problematic Internet use (PIU) in autistic individuals. Studies assessing OCD traits in autistic individuals are scarce and even less take into account the role that this overlap may have on the development and maintenance of PIU. We aimed to investigate OCD features in ASD individuals and their association with autism severity and the prevalence of PIU, and the potential dimensions associated with a greater probability of PIU.

METHODS

a total of 46 participants with ASD and 53 controls were assessed with the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum questionnaire and the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum-Short Version.

RESULTS

There were significantly higher OCD features in ASD participants along with important correlations between OCD and ASD dimensions and a higher prevalence of PIU in the ASD group. Participants with putative PIU reported greater scores on some ASD and OCD dimensions, the with Doubt and Non-verbal communication domains emerging as significant predictors of the presence of putative PIU.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the three-way link between ASD, OCD, and PIU, contributing to the hypothesis of a neurodevelopmental basis for those conditions.

Autistic Traits as Predictors of Increased Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Severity: The Role of Inflexibility and Communication Impairment

Due to similar manifestations, some authors have proposed a potential correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This link has long been recognized and debated, with some authors arguing that these disorders frequently occur comorbid but distinct while others believe they are part of the same spectrum. The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence and correlates of autistic traits in 55 OCD patients and 55 matched controls and to assess possible autistic dimensions predictive of higher OCD symptoms. All participants were assessed with the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum-Short Version (OBS-SV) and the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum). The OCD group scored significantly higher in both questionnaires. Total OBS-SV scores and domains were significantly correlated with all AdAS Spectrum domains and total score. The AdAS Spectrum total, Verbal Communication and Inflexibility and adherence to routine domain scores were significant positive predictors of higher OBS-SV scores. Lastly, when two clusters of subjects (high and low autism) were determined, Inflexibility and adherence to routine domain presented the greatest influence in forming the clusters. Our findings support the association between OCD and autistic traits in the adult population, supporting the hypothesis of a neurodevelopmental basis for these psychiatric conditions.

Measuring the neglected anxiety disorder: validation of the social anxiety spectrum-short version (SHY-SV) questionnaire

BACKGROUND

In the recent years, a growing body of literature stressed the importance of a dimensional perspective on mental disorders. In particular, since its conceptualization, one of the main concerns in the field of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) has been the definition of a diagnostic threshold, leading to the suggestion that SAD may be more properly classified as a spectrum of severity rather than a discrete disorder based on subjectively determined threshold. The purpose of the current research is to evaluate the psychometric qualities of the Social Anxiety Spectrum - Short Version (SHY-SV), a novel questionnaire designed to measure the complete range of social anxiety symptoms, from overt manifestations to subthreshold ones.

METHODS

42 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), 43 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and 60 individuals without current or lifetime mental disorders (HC) were recruited from the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Pisa. Subjects were assessed with the SCID-5, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and the SHY-SV.

RESULTS

SHY-SV showed strong internal consistency, and both the total and domain scores had great test-retest reliability. The Pearson's coefficients for the SHY-SV domain scores ranged from 0.391 to 0.933, and they were positively and significantly correlated with one another (p 0.001). All the SHY-SV domain scores were highly correlated with the SHY-SV total score. Results from of the correlation coefficients between SHY-SV and alternative measures of SAD were all significant and positive. Significant differences among diagnostic groups on both SAD-SV domains and total scores were found. SAD-SV total score increased significantly and progressively from HCs, to the OCD up to the SAD group which showed the highest values.

CONCLUSION

The SHY-SV demonstrated significant convergent validity with other dimensional SAD measures, great internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. With an increasing score gradient from healthy controls to patients with OCD to those with SAD, the questionnaire performed differently in each of the three diagnostic categories.