title: Obsessive-compulsive disorder subtypes: an attempted replication and extension of a symptom-based taxonomy.
abstract: A symptom-based subgroup taxonomy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was evaluated and refined. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale symptom checklist was scored and cluster analysis was conducted with a sample of OCD patients (N = 114). Results were compared to Calamari et al.'s (Behaviour Research and Therapy 37 (1999) 113) five subgroup model. Rules for determining the number of subgroups supported a more complex model. In between sample comparisons, a stable contamination subgroup was found in both a five and seven subgroup taxonomy. Between sample stability was not as strong for Harming, Obsessionals, Symmetry, and Certainty subgroups. Hoarding, as a distinctive subgroup, was unstable in separate samples. When the Calamari et al. sample and the present sample were combined (N = 220), we found a reliable Hoarding subgroup. More interpretable and stable models emerged with the combined samples suggesting that large clinical samples are needed to identify OCD subgroups. Greater support was found for a seven subgroup taxonomy based subgroup interpretability and validation measure differences. The potential utility of symptom-based subgroup models of OCD and alternative approaches are discussed. Identification of reliable and valid OCD subtypes may advance theory and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA. john.calamari1@finchems.edu
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Calamari
authors.forename: Pamela S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Wiegartz
authors.forename: Bradley C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Riemann
authors.forename: Robyn J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jacobi
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carmin
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000145:classification*; D009626:Terminology as Topic