Design and validation of the Compulsive Obsessive Symptoms Scale for Parents (CESOC-P)

The aim of this study was to develop an instrument for the detection of obsessive compulsive (OC) symptoms through parent information. 492 parents of schoolchildren answered the 41preliminary items of the “Questionnaire for the evaluation of obsessive compulsive symptoms- parent” (CESOC-P). A first exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was made to reduce the number of items, and with the items that obtained loads equal to or higher than 0.50 and some items considered clinically relevant another EFA using the Oblimin rotation method was performed. The 13 items selected made up the final version, which showed a single factor (KMO= .86 index, GFI= .96) and adequate reliability (α= .84). CESOC-P scores were significantly related to OC diagnoses and Child Symptoms Inventory-4 OC scores. A cut-off score of 3 presented adequate sensitivity and specificity. The CESOC-P is a quick, reliable and valid tool for the detection of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and can be useful to supplement the information reported by children and/or teenagers.