In a pioneering effort to enhance the assessment of sensory phenomena associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), researchers have validated the Chinese adaptation of The University of São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale (USP-SPS). This development represents a significant advancement in the tools available for clinicians and researchers working within Chinese-speaking populations, giving them a culturally tailored and psychometrically robust instrument to evaluate sensory experiences that often accompany OCD.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a complex psychiatric condition characterized not only by obsessions and compulsions but also by a range of sensory phenomena, such as heightened tactile or visual sensations, that can drive compulsive behaviors. Accurately capturing these sensory symptoms has historically been challenging, particularly across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. The USP-SPS, originally developed to quantify sensory phenomena in OCD, has been a valuable resource but lacked validated versions for many non-Portuguese-speaking populations.
The recent study conducted by Zhang, Sun, Xie, and colleagues sought to fill this gap by translating and validating the Chinese version of the USP-SPS. This process involved rigorous psychometric testing to ensure that the scale’s structure, reliability, and validity were preserved in the translation, thereby enabling its use in clinical and research settings in China and other Mandarin-speaking regions.
To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese USP-SPS, the researchers recruited a cohort of 256 participants, including 184 diagnosed with OCD and 72 healthy controls. Participants completed the translated USP-SPS alongside other standardized measures such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), Beck Depression Inventory Revised (BDI-II), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). These complementary measures provided comparative data to evaluate convergent and discriminant validity.
One of the hallmarks of this study was the comprehensive evaluation of the scale’s internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The internal consistency, which indicates how well the items on the scale measure the same construct, was found to be excellent, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.94 for the severity scale among OCD patients. This level of consistency assures that the instrument reliably captures the sensory phenomena symptoms relevant to OCD in the Chinese context.
Equally impressive was the test-retest reliability, determined through a repeated assessment one week apart in a subset of 30 participants. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.77 indicated good stability of responses over time, reinforcing the scale’s suitability for longitudinal monitoring of symptoms. This characteristic is indispensable for both clinical interventions and research trials assessing treatment efficacy.
Beyond reliability, the study employed exploratory factor analysis to investigate the underlying structure of the Chinese USP-SPS. The analysis revealed a six-factor architecture, accounting for nearly 60% of total variance, which aligns with theoretical expectations about the multidimensional nature of sensory phenomena in OCD. Each item demonstrated substantial factor loadings between 0.48 and 0.86, underscoring the clarity of each factor’s representation in the scale.
The research team also demonstrated significant correlations between the USP-SPS severity scale and other established measures. Notably, there were moderate positive associations with the OCI-R total score and subscales related to ordering and mental neutralization, as well as with the BAI, a measure of anxiety symptoms. These findings establish the convergent validity of the scale, confirming that it aligns well with related constructs of OCD severity and anxiety.
Importantly, the study also addressed discriminant validity, ensuring that the USP-SPS measures sensory phenomena largely distinct from depressive symptoms assessed by the BDI-II. This differentiation is critical, given the frequent symptom overlap in psychiatric conditions that can complicate diagnosis and treatment planning.
The successful validation of the Chinese USP-SPS opens up new avenues for both research and clinical practice in OCD. With this tool, clinicians can more accurately assess sensory phenomena, which are often subtle but impactful aspects of the disorder that influence patient experience and treatment response. Enhanced assessment can lead to more personalized and effective interventions.
Furthermore, this advancement has implications beyond China. The adaptation and validation process outlined by Zhang and colleagues provides a robust methodological template for translating and validating the USP-SPS in other languages and cultural settings. This could ultimately contribute to a global standardization of sensory phenomena assessment in OCD, enhancing cross-cultural research comparability.
The study is not without its limitations, including a relatively brief test-retest interval and the need for further validation in broader and more diverse Chinese populations. Nevertheless, its robust methodology and significant findings set a firm foundation for future research and application.
In summary, the Chinese version of The University of São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale represents a major step forward in the objective evaluation of sensory phenomena in OCD. Its validated psychometric properties guarantee that clinicians and researchers have an effective, reliable, and culturally appropriate instrument to better understand and treat the sensory dimensions of OCD, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
As OCD continues to affect millions worldwide, with sensory phenomena contributing to the complexity and severity of the condition, tools like the Chinese USP-SPS provide critical insight. They enable a nuanced understanding that can drive innovation in treatment and enrich the global conversation about OCD diagnosis and management.
This breakthrough exemplifies the vital role of cross-cultural research in psychiatric assessment, highlighting how adapting instruments thoughtfully can enhance the inclusivity and applicability of mental health diagnostics worldwide. Such efforts help close the gap between scientific progress and real-world patient needs.
The study conducted by Zhang et al. underscores an essential tenet in psychology and psychiatry: that reliable measurement tailored to cultural and linguistic specifics is foundational to improving mental healthcare universally. Their work symbolizes progress not only for OCD assessment in China but also for the broader mission of culturally competent psychiatric practice.
Subject of Research: Assessment of sensory phenomena in obsessive-compulsive disorder using a culturally adapted psychometric instrument.
Article Title: Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of The University of São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale in OCD patients.
Article References:
Zhang, X., Sun, Y., Xie, M. et al. Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of The University of São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale in OCD patients. BMC Psychiatry 25, 778 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07193-5
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07193-5
