Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Scale
Info
Time spent on obsessions 0 hrs/day 0-1 hr/day 1-3 hrs/day 3-8 hrs/day >8 hrs/day
Interference from obsessions None Mild Definite but manageable Substantial impairment Incapacitating
Distress from obsessions None Little Moderate but manageable Severe Near constant, disabling
Resistance to obsessions Always resists Much resistance Some resistance Often yields Completely yields
Control over obsessions Complete control Much control Some control Little control No control
Hours/day spent on compulsions 0 hrs/day 0-1 hr/day 1-3 hrs/day 3-8 hrs/day >8 hrs/day
Interference from compulsions None Mild Definite but manageable Substantial impairment Incapacitating
Distress from compulsions None little Moderate but manageable Severe Near constant, disabling
Resistance to compulsions Always resists Much resistance Some resistance Often yields Completely yields
Control over compulsions Complete control Much control Some control Little control No control
R e s u l t s
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Obsession Rating Subscale
 
Compulsion Rating Subscale
 
Y-BOCS total
 
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Info
Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Scale

The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Scale (Y-BOCS) is used to evaluate both obsessions and compulsions.

The Obsession Rating Scale is made up of the first 5 questions, and the Compulsion Rating Scale from the last 5 questions. Each question can score 0-4 points, with a total for each scale ranging from 0-20 and a total for the entire Y-BOCS being 0-40. The higher the score, the more severe the symptoms.

Obsession Rating Scale (Questions 1-5):

  1. Time spent on obsessions
    • 0 pt = 0 hrs/day
    • 1 pt = 0-1 hr/day
    • 2 pts = 1-3 hrs/day
    • 3 pts = 3-8 hrs/day
    • 4 pts = >8 hrs/day
  2. Interference from obsessions
    • 0 pt = None
    • 1 pt = Mild
    • 2 pts = Definite but manageable
    • 3 pts = Substantial impairment
    • 4 pts = Incapacitating
  3. Distress from obsessions
    • 0 pt = None
    • 1 pt = Little
    • 2 pts = Moderate but manageable
    • 3 pts = Severe
    • 4 pts = Near constant, disabling
  4. Resistance to obsessions
    • 0 pt = Always resists
    • 1 pt = Much resistance
    • 2 pts = Some resistance
    • 3 pts = Often yields
    • 4 pts = Completely yields
  5. Control over obsessions
    • 0 pt = Complete control
    • 1 pt = Much control
    • 2 pts = Some control
    • 3 pts = Little control
    • 4 pts = No control
  6. Hours/day spent on compulsions
    • 0 pt = 0 hrs/day
    • 1 pt = 0-1 hr/day
    • 2 pts = 1-3 hrs/day
    • 3 pts = 3-8 hrs/day
    • 4 pts = >8 hrs/day
  7. Interference from compulsions
    • 0 pt = None
    • 1 pt = Mild
    • 2 pts = Definite but manageable
    • 3 pts = Substantial impairment
    • 4 pts = Incapacitating
  8. Distress from compulsions
    • 0 pt = None
    • 1 pt = Little
    • 2 pts = Moderate but manageable
    • 3 pts = Severe
    • 4 pts = Near constant, disabling
  9. Resistance to compulsions
    • 0 pt = Always resists
    • 1 pt = Much resistance
    • 2 pts = Some resistance
    • 3 pts = Often yields
    • 4 pts = Completely yields
  10. Control over compulsions
    • 0 pt = Complete control
    • 1 pt = Much control
    • 2 pts = Some control
    • 3 pts = Little control
    • 4 pts = No control

Scoring

  • Obsession Rating Subscale is sum of points questions 1-5 (0-20 points)
  • Compulsion Rating Subscale is sum of points questions 6-10 (0-20 points)
  • Y-BOCS total is sum of points questions 1-10 (0-40 points)

Interpretation (Total Y-BOCS) [Patients who have both obsessions and compulsions]

Points Severity
0-7 Subclinical
8-15 Mild
16-23 Moderate
24-31 Severe
32-40 Extreme

Reference:

Goodman WK, Price LH, Rasmussen SA, et al. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:1006-11.