Revision of the Padua Inventory of obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms: distinctions between worry, obsessions, and compulsions.

Full Abstract

The Padua Inventory (PI), a self-report measure of obsessive and compulsive symptoms, is increasingly used in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) research. Freeston, Ladouceur, Rheaume, Letarte, Gagnon and Thibodeau (1994) [Behaviour Research and Therapy, 32, 29-36], however, recently showed that the PI measures worry in addition to obsessions. In an attempt to solve this measurement problem, this study used a content distinction between obsessions and worry to revise the PI. The revision was constructed to measure five content dimensions relevant to OCD i.e. (1) obsessional thoughts about harm to oneself or others; (2) obsessional impulses to harm oneself or others; (3) contamination obsessions and washing compulsions; (4) checking compulsions; and (5) dressing/grooming compulsions. A total of 5010 individuals participated in the study, 2970 individuals completing the PI and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and an additional 2040 individuals completing only the PI. The results provided support for the reliability and validity of the revision. In addition, the revision of the PI was more independent of worry, as measured by the PSWQ, than the original PI. Support was thus found for the validity of the content distinction between obsessions and worry. The importance of this content distinction is also discussed for the evaluation of other hypothesized distinctions between obsessions and worry.

Author information

Author/s: Burns, G L (GL); Keortge, S G (SG); Formea, G M (GM); Sternberger, L G (LG);

Affiliation: Psychology Department, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4820, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Behaviour research and therapy (Behav Res Ther), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1996-Feb; vol 34 (issue 2) : pp 163-73

Dates: Created 1996/10/23; Completed 1996/10/23; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 8741724, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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