LAUSR

Background Obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) have not been studied among Nigerian adolescents, despite studies in developed countries reporting that almost 90% of affected adolescents do not receive any treatment. The availability of a psychometrically valid and reliable instrument will serve as an initial step towards the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Nigerian adolescent obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Aims The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric characteristics as well as correlates of the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory — Child Version (OCI-CV) in a non-clinical sample of Nigerian adolescents. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 1017 adolescents who completed the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Child Version (OCI-CV), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The model fit of the OCI-CV 6 factors was examined through confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was determined by calculating the McDonald's Omega hierarchical (ωh) values while its concurrent validity was examined through correlational analyses. Results The overall internal consistency of the OCI-CV was 0.96. The indices of fitness obtained on subjecting the 21 items of the OCI-CV to CFA indicated modestly acceptable indices of fitness despite satisfactory item loading on the 6 subscales. Statistically significant correlations were observed between OCI-CV and the other study measures. OCS was reported by 37.8%. Conclusion The OCI-CV has exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties among Nigerian adolescents.