YALE-BROWN OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE SCALE (Y-BOCS) Thank you for taking time to complete the YALE-BROWN OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE SCALE (Y-BOCS) This quick assessment is not meant for diagnostic use - rather, it guides your doctor to make the best clinical decisions for you, and to help monitor your improvement. Name Email Birth date (for identity verification) The questions on this page are about your obsessive thoughts. 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. Please answer each question by circling the appropriate number. None How much of your time is occupied by obsessive thoughts? None Less than 1 hr/day, or occasional occurrence 1 to 3 hrs/day or frequent More than 3 and up to 8 hrs/day or very frequent occurrence More than 8 hrs/day or nearly constant occurrence None 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?) None Slight interference with social or other activities, but overall performance not impaired Definite interference with social or occupational performance, but still manageable Causes substantial impairment in social or occupational performance Incapacitating None How much distress do your obsessive thoughts cause you? None Not too disturbing Disturbing, but still manageable Very disturbing Near constant and disabling distress None How much distress do your obsessive thoughts cause you? None Not too disturbing Disturbing, but still manageable Very disturbing Near constant and disabling distress None 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 control Usually able to stop or divert obsessions with some effort and concentration Sometimes able to stop or divert obsessions Rarely successful in stopping or dismissing obsessions, can only divert attention with difficulty Obsessions are completely involuntary, rarely able to even momentarily alter obsessive thinking. None 1 out of 2 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. None 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? None Less than 1 hr/day or occasional performance of compulsive behaviours From 1 to 3 hrs/day, or frequent performance of compulsive behaviours More than 3 and up to 8 hrs/day, or very frequent performance of compulsive behaviours More than 8 hrs/day, or near constant performance of compulsive behaviours (too numerous to count) None 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? None Slight interference with social or other activities, but overall performance not impaired Definite interference with social or occupational performance, but still manageable Causes substantial impairment in social or occupational performance Incapacitating None How would you feel if prevented from performing your compulsion(s)? How anxious would you become? None Only slightly anxious if compulsions prevented Anxiety would mount but remain manageable if compulsions prevented Prominent and very disturbing increase in anxiety if compulsions interrupted Incapacitating anxiety from any intervention aimed at modifying activity None How much of an effort do you make to resist the compulsions? Always try to resist Try to resist most of the time Make some effort to resist Yield to almost all compulsions without attempting to control them, but with some reluctance Completely and willingly yield to all compulsions None How strong is the drive to perform the compulsive behavior? How much control do you have over the compulsions? Complete control Pressure to perform the behavior but usually able to exercise voluntary control over it Strong pressure to perform behavior, can control it only with difficulty Very strong drive to perform behavior, must be carried to completion, can only delay with difficulty Drive to perform behavior experienced as completely involuntary and over-powering, rarely able to even momentarily delay activity. None 2 out of 2 Thank you for submitting your answers. Your responses will be sent directly to your doctor/treating clinician, and will not be shared with any other third parties without your consent. Time's up
