Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale

Name*

First NameLast Name

Date of Birth

Date

Date*

Date

Obsessions are unwanted ideas, images or impulses that intrude on thinking against your wishes and efforts to resist them. They usually involve themes of harm, risk and danger.

Common obsessions are excessive fears of contamination; recurring doubts about danger, extreme concern with order, symmetry, or exactness; fear of losing important things.

What is your main obsession?

1. How much of your time is occupied by obsessive thoughts?*

NoneLess than 1 hr/day or occasional occurrence1-3 hrs/day or infrequentGreater than 3 and up to 8 hr/day, or very frequent occurrenceGreater than 8 hrs/day or nearly constant occurrence

2. How much do your obsessive thoughts interfere with your work, school, social, or other important role functioning? Is there anything that you don't do because of them?*

NoneSlight interference with social or other activities, but overall performance not impairedDefinite interference with social or occupational performance, but still manageableCauses substantial impairment in social or occupational performanceIncapacitating

3. How much distress do your obsessive thoughts cause you?*

4. How much of an effort do you make to resist the obsessive thoughts? How often do you try to disregard or turn your attention away from these thoughts as they enter your mind?*

Try to resist all the timeTry to resist most of the timeMake some effort to resistYield to all obsessions without attempting to control them, but with some reluctanceCompletely and willingly yield to all obsessions

5. How much control do you have over your obsessive thoughts? How successful are you in stopping or diverting your obsessive thinking? Can you dismiss them?*

Complete controlUsually able to stop or divert obsessions with some effort and concentrationSometimes able to stop or divert obsessionsRarely successful in stopping or dismissing obsessions, can only divert attention with difficultyObsessions are completely involuntary, rarely able to even momentarily alter obsessive thinking

The next several questions are about your compulsive behaviors.

Compulsions are urges that people have to do something to lessen feelings of anxiety or other discomfort.

Often they do repetitive, purposeful, intentional behaviors called rituals. The behavior itself may seem appropriate but it becomes a ritual when done to excess. Washing, checking, repeating, straightening, hoarding and many other behaviors can be rituals. Some rituals are mental. For example, thinking or saying things over and over under your breath.

What is your main compulsion?

6. How much time do you spend performing compulsive behaviors? How much longer than most people does it take to complete routine activities because of your rituals? How frequently do you do rituals?*

NoneLess than 1 hr/day or occasional performance of compulsive behavior1-3 hrs/day or infrequent performance of compulsive behaviorMore than 3 and up to 8 hr/day, or very frequent performance of compulsive behaviorGreater than 8 hrs/day or nearly constant performance of compulsive behavior

7. How much do your compulsive behaviors interfere with your work, school, social, or other important role functioning? Is there anything that you don’t do because of the compulsions?*

NoneSlight interference with social or other activities, but overall performance not impairedDefinite interference with social or occupational performance, but still manageableCauses substantial impairment in social or occupational performanceIncapacitating

8. How would you feel if prevented from performing your compulsion(s)? How anxious would you become? *

NoneOnly slightly anxious if compulsions preventedAnxiety would mount but remain manageable if compulsions preventedProminent and very disturbing increase in anxiety if compulsions interruptedIncapacitating anxiety from any intervention aimed at modifying activity

9. How much of an effort do you make to resist the compulsions?*

Always try to resistTry to resist most of the timeMake some effort to resistYield to almost all compulsions without attempting to control them, but with some reluctanceCompletely and willingly yield to all compulsions

10. How strong is the drive to perform the compulsive behavior? How much control do you have over the compulsions?*

Complete controlPressure to perform the behavior but usually able to exercise voluntary control over itStrong pressure to perform behavior, can control it only with difficultyVery strong drive to perform behavior, must be carried to completion, can only delay with difficultyDrive to perform behavior experienced as completely involuntary and overpowering, rarely able to even momentarily delay activity

Total Score*

Scoring Guidelines:

Total Score	Level of Severity
0-7	Subclinical
8-15	Mild
16-23	Moderate
24-31	Severe
32-40	Extreme

A 25% decrease in YBOCS score: mild to moderate improvement

A 35-50% decrease in YBOCS score: moderate to marked improvement