Measuring Compulsivity as a Self-Reported Multidimensional Transdiagnostic Construct: Large-Scale ( N = 182,000) Validation of the Cambridge-Chicago Compulsivity Trait Scale.

Compulsivity has potential transdiagnostic relevance to a range of psychiatric disorders, but it has not been well-characterized and there are few existing measures available for measuring the construct across clinical and nonclinical samples that have been validated at large population scale. We aimed to characterize the multidimensional latent structure of self-reported compulsivity in a population-based sample of British children and adults ( N = 182,145) using the Cambridge-Chicago Compulsivity Trait Scale (CHI-T). Exploratory structural equation modeling provided evidence for a correlated two-factor model consisting of (a) Perfectionism and (b) Reward Drive dimensions. Evidence was obtained for discriminant validity in relation to the big five personality dimensions and acceptable test-retest reliability. The CHI-T, here validated at extremely large scale, is suitable for use in studies seeking to understand the correlates and basis of compulsivity in clinical and nonclinical participants. We provide extensive normative data to facilitate interpretation in future studies.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr. J.E.G. has received research grants from Otsuka and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He receives yearly compensation from Springer Publishing for acting as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies and has received royalties from Oxford University Press, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Norton Press, and McGraw Hill. Prof. S.R.C. receives honoraria from Elsevier for editorial work. Prof. S.R.C. and Prof. J.E.G. are copyright holders for the Cambridge-Chicago Trait Compulsivity Scale (CHI-T).