Latent class analysis of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Delucchi, Kevin L.; Katerberg, Hilga; Stewart, S. Evelyn; Denys, Damiaan A.J.P.; Lochner, Christine; Stack, Denise E.; den Boer, Johan A.; van Balkom, Anton J.L.M.; Jenike, Michael A.; Stein, Dan J.; Cath, Danielle C.; Mathews, Carol A.

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.06.007

« Previous Next »Comprehensive Psychiatry
Volume 52, Issue 3 , Pages 334-341, May 2011

Latent class analysis of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Kevin L. Delucchi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Box 0984-TRC, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 415 476 4180; fax: +1 415 476 7677.
Hilga Katerberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
S. Evelyn Stewart
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinics (Adult and Pediatric), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
Damiaan A.J.P. Denys
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Christine Lochner
- Department of Psychiatry, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Denise E. Stack
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
Johan A. den Boer
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Anton J.L.M. van Balkom
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University and Altrecht Anxiety Outpatient program, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Michael A. Jenike
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinics (Adult and Pediatric), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
Dan J. Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Danielle C. Cath
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, GGZ Buitenamstel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University and Altrecht Anxiety Outpatient program, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Carol A. Mathews
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Box 0984-TRC, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA

published online 06 August 2010.

Abstract

Objective

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is phenomenologically heterogeneous, and findings of underlying structure classification based on symptom grouping have been ambiguous to date. Variable-centered approaches, primarily factor analysis, have been used to identify homogeneous groups of symptoms; but person-centered latent methods have seen little use. This study was designed to uncover sets of homogeneous groupings within 1611 individuals with OCD based on symptoms.

Method

Latent class analysis models using 61 obsessive-compulsive symptoms collected from the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale were fit. Relationships between latent class membership and treatment response, sex, symptom severity, and comorbid tic disorders were tested for relationship to class membership.

Results

Latent class analysis models of best fit yielded 3 classes. Classes differed only in frequency of symptom endorsement. Classes with higher symptom endorsement were associated with earlier age of onset, being male, higher Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale symptom severity scores, and comorbid tic disorders. There were no differences in treatment response between classes.

Conclusions

These results provide support for the validity of a single underlying latent OCD construct, in addition to the distinct symptom factors identified previously via factor analyses.