Measuring incompleteness and not just right experiences: A psychometric evaluation of two commonly used questionnaires in OCD and anxiety disorders samples

Extending previous research, this study examined the psychometric properties of two commonly used self-report measures of incompleteness (INC) and not-just-right experiences (NJREs), the Obsessive-Compulsive Trait Core Dimensions Questionnaire (OC-TCDQ; Summerfeldt et al., 2014) and the Not Just Right Experiences Questionnaire - Revised (NJRE-QR; Coles et al., 2003) in large samples of individuals with OCD and anxiety disorders. Factor analyses indicated adequate support for a two-factor solution for the OC-TCDQ and a one-factor solution for the NJRE-QR. Both measures demonstrated excellent internal consistency and good-to-excellent test-retest reliability. We found good convergent validity between the measures of interest and with an OCD symptom severity measure. Discriminant validity was evidenced by a significantly stronger correlation between INC and NJRE severity than the relatively modest correlations with theoretically distinct constructs (i.e., harm avoidance and general distress). Individuals with OCD had a similar number of NJREs as individuals with anxiety disorders but reported significantly greater NJRE distress and levels of INC. Finally, both measures were sensitive to change across group cognitive-behavioural therapy for OCD. These findings provide support for the reliability and validity of the OC-TCDQ and NJRE-QR to measure INC (trait) and NJRE (state) constructs that assist in understanding the phenomenology of OCD. • Assessed OC-TCDQ & NJRE-QR psychometrics in large OCD and anxiety disorders samples. • OC-TCDQ & NJRE-QR demonstrated good to excellent reliability and validity. • OC-TCDQ & NJRE-QR severity scores decreased with CBT, showing sensitivity to change. • OC-TCDQ & NJRE-QR are suitable measures of INC (trait) and NJRE (state) respectively.