THE STRUCTURE OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE SYMPTOMS

In the present study, the structure of obsessive-compulsive symptoms w as investigated by means of the Padua Inventory (PI). Simultaneous Com ponents Analysis on data from obsessive-compulsives (n = 206), patient s with other anxiety disorders (n = 222), and a non clinical sample (n = 430) revealed a five-factor solution. These factors are: (I) impuls es; (II) washing; (III) checking; (IV) rumination; and (V) precision. Forty-one items were selected as measure of these factors. The reliabi lity for the five subscales, assessing each of the five factors, was f ound to be satisfactory to excellent. Four subscales (washing, checkin g, rumination and precision) discriminated between panic disorder pati ents, social phobics and normals on the one hand and obsessive compuls ives on the other. The Impulses subscale discriminated between obsessi ve-compulsives on the one hand and normals on the other, but not betwe en obsessive-compulsives and social phobics or panic patients. Some ev idence in support of the construct validity was found. The Padua Inven tory-Revised (41-items) appears to measure the structure of obsessive compulsive symptoms: The main types of behaviours and obsessions as se en clinically are assessed by this questionnaire, apart from obsession al slowness.