OCI-R: Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised
18-item OCD severity measure across six subscales: washing, obsessing, hoarding, ordering, checking, neutralizing. Clinical cutoff ≥21. Free for clinical use. Foa et al., 2002.
OCI-R Score Interpreter
Score meets the validated threshold associated with clinically significant OCD symptom distress. Clinical evaluation is recommended.
18 items, each rated 0–4; total range 0–72. Higher scores indicate greater OCD symptom distress. The ≥21 cutoff was validated against a clinical OCD diagnosis.
| Total score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 21+ | At or above clinical cutoffScore meets the validated threshold associated with clinically significant OCD symptom distress. Clinical evaluation is recommended. |
| 0–20 | Below clinical cutoffScore falls below the validated clinical threshold. Subclinical scores do not exclude OCD; clinical judgment and context always apply. |
Foa et al. (2002). Clinical cutoff ≥21 per original validation study. Educational reference only — not a diagnostic tool.
HiBoop automates OCI-R delivery, scoring, and longitudinal symptom tracking. Monitor OCD severity alongside depression and anxiety in a single session.
The OCI-R (Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised) is a validated 18-item self-report measure of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom severity and distress. Developed clinical practice and research. The OCI-R measures distress across six OCD symptom subscales: washing, obsessing, hoarding, ordering, checking, and neutralizing. Each item is rated 0–4 ("Not at all" to "Extremely"); the total score ranges from 0 to 72.
This interactive OCI-R online test calculates your total score and subscale profiles. A total score of 21 or above indicates clinically significant OCD symptom severity (sensitivity 85%, specificity 90%; Foa et al., 2002). Elevated subscale scores help identify the predominant OCD symptom dimension. A high OCI-R score warrants clinical evaluation, it does not constitute a diagnosis. For related tools, see our assessment library and measurement-based care resources.
HiBoop supports automated OCI-R delivery with integrated scoring, subscale profiling, and longitudinal OCD symptom tracking for mental health practices.
The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) is the most widely used brief self-report measure for OCD symptom severity. It assesses the degree of distress caused by 18 obsessive and compulsive symptoms across six subscales. Developed by Foa et al. (2002) as a shorter version of the original 42-item OCI, it is the standard outcome measure in OCD clinical trials and evidence-based practice.
Instructions: Rate how much the following experiences have distressed or bothered you during the past month.
Use the scale: 0 = Not at all, 1 = A little, 2 = Moderately, 3 = Quite a bit, 4 = Extremely
OCI-R Scoring and Interpretation
OCI-R Six Subscales
Distress about contamination and excessive washing/cleaning compulsions
Distress from intrusive, unwanted thoughts (taboo, aggressive, or harm-related)
Difficulty discarding possessions; distress about throwing things away
Need for symmetry, order, or exactness; distress when things are out of place
Repeated checking of appliances, doors, or feared having done something wrong
Mental acts to neutralize or "undo" intrusive thoughts; counting or praying rituals
OCI-R Psychometric Properties
Good to excellent across clinical and community samples (Foa et al., 2002)
Sensitivity 85%, specificity 90% for distinguishing OCD from anxiety disorders in the original validation (Foa et al., 2002)
Good stability over 2-week intervals in OCD outpatient samples
Widely used as a primary outcome measure in ERP and CBT randomized controlled trials for OCD
OCI-R vs Y-BOCS: Self-Report vs Clinician-Rated
The OCI-R is a self-report screening and outcome measure, efficient for routine monitoring and initial screening. The Y-BOCS (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) is a structured clinician-administered interview that remains the criterion standard for OCD severity assessment and treatment planning.
Best practice: screen with OCI-R, then administer Y-BOCS for patients scoring ≥21 to obtain a detailed symptom checklist and severity rating before initiating ERP treatment.
Documenting OCI-R results in clinical notes?
OCI-R total score, severity band, and dominant subscale(s) belong in the Objective section of your clinical note. See our SOAP notes guide for templates and documentation examples.
Copyright: The OCI-R is available for free use in clinical practice and research. Cite Foa et al. (2002) in research publications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a high OCI-R score?
A total OCI-R score of 21 or above is the validated clinical cutoff for clinically significant OCD symptom severity, derived from receiver operating characteristic analyses in the original validation study (Foa et al., 2002). Scores below 21 are considered subclinical, though elevated subscale scores may still warrant clinical attention even when the total falls below this threshold.
Is the OCI-R self-report or clinician-administered?
The OCI-R is a self-report questionnaire completed by the patient. It is not clinician-administered. For detailed OCD severity assessment and treatment planning, clinicians typically follow up with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), which is a structured clinician-administered interview.
Can the OCI-R diagnose OCD?
No. The OCI-R measures OCD symptom severity and distress but cannot provide a diagnosis. A score at or above the clinical cutoff of 21 indicates clinically significant symptoms that warrant a comprehensive clinical evaluation; diagnosis requires assessment by a qualified clinician.
How is the OCI-R scored?
Respondents rate 18 items on a 0–4 scale (0 = Not at all; 4 = Extremely), reflecting the degree of distress caused by each symptom over the past month. The 18 items sum to a total score ranging from 0 to 72. Items are also grouped into six subscales of three items each — washing, obsessing, hoarding, ordering, checking, and neutralizing — enabling subscale profiling alongside the total score.
References
- 1.Foa EB, Huppert JD, Leiberg S, Langner R, Kichic R, Hajcak G, Salkovskis PM. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory: development and validation of a short version. Psychol Assess. 2002;14(4):485-496.View source
- 2.Wootton BM, Diefenbach GJ, Bragdon LB, Steketee G, Frost RO, Tolin DF. A contemporary psychometric evaluation of the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). Psychol Assess. 2015;27(3):874-882.View source
- 3.Gönner S, Leonhart R, Ecker W. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R): validation of the German version in a sample of patients with OCD, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders. J Anxiety Disord. 2008;22(4):734-749.View source
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The OCI-R: Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised qualifies for reimbursement under these CPT codes (US).
Last reviewed: Jun 3, 2026
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