Interactive Interpreter

OCI-R: Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised

The OCI-R (Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised) is an 18-item self-report questionnaire that measures distress from obsessive-compulsive symptoms over the past month across six subscales: washing, obsessing, hoarding, ordering, checking and neutralizing. A total of 21 or above is the clinical cutoff (Foa et al., 2002).

For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.

OCI-R Score Interpreter

  • OCI-R Score Calculator

    Enter each of the 18 items (0–4) to total them and see the band. Items are numbered, not reproduced — enter them from the form in front of you. Scoring aid only; it does not diagnose.

    0 of 18 items entered — 18 still blank. The total can only rise, so treat the range as provisional.

    Item 1
    Item 2
    Item 3
    Item 4
    Item 5
    Item 6
    Item 7
    Item 8
    Item 9
    Item 10
    Item 11
    Item 12
    Item 13
    Item 14
    Item 15
    Item 16
    Item 17
    Item 18

    Each item scores 0–4.

  • Enter a total score to see its range.

  • 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 scoreInterpretation
    21+At or above clinical cutoffScore meets the validated threshold associated with clinically significant OCD symptom distress. Clinical evaluation is recommended.
    0–20Below 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.

The OCI-R (Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised) is an 18-item self-report questionnaire that measures distress from obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms over the past month across six subscales. Totals run from 0 to 72, and the original study derived screening cutscores from ROC analyses [1].

What does the OCI-R measure?

The OCI-R is one of the most commonly used self-report measures of OCD symptoms [2]. It assesses the degree of distress caused by 18 obsessive and compulsive symptoms across six subscales of three items each.

It was developed as a revision of the original 42-item OCI. The revision dropped the redundant frequency scale, simplified subscale scoring and reduced overlap between subscales [1].

OCI-R six subscales

  • Washing: distress about contamination and excessive washing/cleaning compulsions
  • Obsessing: distress from intrusive, unwanted thoughts (taboo, aggressive, or harm-related)
  • Hoarding: difficulty discarding possessions; distress about throwing things away
  • Ordering: need for symmetry, order, or exactness; distress when things are out of place
  • Checking: repeated checking of appliances, doors, or feared having done something wrong
  • Neutralizing: mental acts to neutralize or "undo" intrusive thoughts; counting or praying rituals

How do you give the OCI-R?

The OCI-R is a self-report questionnaire completed by the client.

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.

How do you score and interpret the OCI-R?

The 18 item ratings sum to a total score from 0 to 72; each subscale sums its three items. The scorer at the top of this page totals the items.

A total score of 21 or above is the clinical cutoff for clinically significant OCD symptom severity; the original study derived its cutscores from ROC analyses [1].

Elevated subscale scores help identify the predominant OCD symptom dimension. A high OCI-R score warrants clinical evaluation; it does not constitute a diagnosis.

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 the OCI-R, then give the Y-BOCS to clients scoring ≥21 to obtain a detailed symptom checklist and severity rating before starting exposure and response prevention or other CBT.

Psychometric properties

  • Original validation. In 215 adults with OCD, 243 with other anxiety disorders and 677 nonanxious participants, the OCI-R kept the excellent psychometric properties of the parent version. The total and its subscales differentiated well between people with and without OCD, and ROC analyses supported empirically derived cutscores for screening [1].
  • DSM-5-era sample. In 474 adults with OCD, hoarding disorder, or no disorder, the five OCD dimensions and the hoarding subscale were reliable and valid and differentiated between DSM-5 diagnostic groups [2].
  • German version. In 381 adults with OCD, other anxiety and depressive disorders, confirmatory factor analysis replicated the six-factor structure, with good convergent, divergent and known-groups validity [3].

Limitations

  • Screening, not diagnosis. A score at or above 21 calls for a comprehensive clinical evaluation.
  • Hoarding is now a separate diagnosis. DSM-5 reclassified hoarding disorder as a separate diagnosis; the 2015 evaluation scored the hoarding subscale separately from the five OCD dimensions [2].
  • Weaker subscales. The German validation found the Neutralizing and Obsessing domains need further development [3].
  • Self-report. Scores reflect distress the respondent reports; the clinician-rated Y-BOCS is used for detailed severity assessment.

Documenting OCI-R results

OCI-R total score, severity band, and dominant subscale(s) belong in the Objective section of a SOAP note.

For individuals: This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.

Related

FAQ

  • 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 client. 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. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

    The OCI-R is copyrighted by its developers. Check the copyright holder's terms before clinical or commercial use, and cite Foa et al. (2002) in research publications.

This library is an academic and clinical reference. A scale described here is not necessarily offered in HiBoop; each page says whether it is.

Add to your practice