The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale is a 10-item clinician-administered rating scale that measures the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms independently of symptom type. It is the most widely used OCD severity measure in clinical trials and practice.

What do the severity bands mean?

Scores 0–7 are subclinical, 8–15 are mild, 16–23 are moderate, 24–31 are severe, and 32–40 are extreme. These bands reflect standard clinical cutoffs, but interpretation should always be done in conjunction with a qualified mental health professional.

Is this tool a substitute for professional diagnosis?

No. This calculator is for informational and self-monitoring purposes only. A Y-BOCS assessment administered by a licensed clinician involves a structured symptom checklist interview that cannot be replicated by a self-report score alone. Always consult a qualified mental health professional for diagnosis or treatment decisions.

What is a clinically significant change in Y-BOCS score?

A reduction of 35% or more from baseline is generally considered a treatment response in clinical trials. A reduction of 25–34% may indicate partial response. Your therapist or psychiatrist can help interpret what score changes mean for your individual treatment.

What is the difference between the obsession and compulsion subscales?

Each subscale contains 5 items rated 0–4, giving a maximum of 20 per subscale. The obsession subscale covers intrusive thoughts/images/urges; the compulsion subscale covers repetitive behaviors or mental acts. Both subscales contribute equally to the total score.

Y-BOCS Score Calculator — OCD Severity Assessment Tool

Summary

Rate 10 Y-BOCS items (0–4 each) to get a total OCD severity score with clinical interpretation.

How it works

Rate each of the 5 obsession items (time, interference, distress, resistance, control) from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme).
Rate each of the 5 compulsion items (time, interference, distress, resistance, control) from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme).
The tool sums all 10 items to give a total score out of 40.
The severity band (subclinical, mild, moderate, severe, extreme) is displayed alongside the score.
Use the result to track symptom change over time or prepare for a clinical discussion.

Use cases

Self-monitoring OCD symptoms between therapy sessions.
Tracking treatment response over time with consistent scoring.
Preparing accurate symptom data before a psychiatry or psychology appointment.
Research or educational purposes to understand Y-BOCS structure.
Comparing scores across different assessment periods.
Supporting exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy progress tracking.

Y-BOCS Helper

Rate Each Item (0 = None → 4 = Extreme)

Result