OCD Scales, LLC, owns the IP to the Y-BOCS™ suite of measures.

Q: How do the Y-BOCS-II and CY-BOCS-II differ from the original versions?

The second editions (denoted by 'II') were introduced to increase sensitivity to changes in more severe OCD by expanding the upper level of the range. This required transitioning from a 5-point (0 to 4) to a 6-point (0 to 5) scale for each of the 10 items, meaning the new maximum score is 50 instead of 40. Additionally, the second editions replace item #4 (resisting obsessions), which had the lowest correlation with other items and can be difficult to interpret among patients who have undergone Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy.

Offering essential tools for OCD since 1989.

WHAT WE DO

About OCD Scales

Our Products

OCD Scales, LLC, owns the intellectual property rights to a suite of clinician-administered and self-rated measures used to assess obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. These include the YBOCS™, CYBOCS™, YBOCS™ II, CYBOCS™ II, the FOCI™ screening instrument, and the Level 2—Repetitive Thoughts and Behavior measure. The YBOCS™, Y-BOCS™, CYBOCS™, CY-BOCS™, and FOCI™ and their derivatives are trademarks of OCD scales, LLC.

Terms of Use

Use of these scales requires permission from Dr. Goodman. A licensing agreement is required for: 1. commercial use; 2. incorporation into an electronic medical record (EMR); 3. inclusion into an app; and 4. digitalization. No adaptations or translations are allowed without prior authorization. Publication of the scales in any medium (e.g., articles, book chapters, etc.), posting them on a website, or distributing them in any form is not permissible.

Artwork

“From the Same Cloth”, was painted by Emily Strouphauer to depict some of the symptoms and salient features of OCD. The other image was created by an Anonymous patient with OCD when Dr. Goodman was at Yale.

Who is Dr. Goodman?

Podcast: Ologies with Alie Ward

Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD) with Dr. Wayne Goodman

Dr. Wayne Goodman made a recent appearance on the Ologies with Alie Ward podcast where they cover myths, misconceptions, diagnosis and treatment options for OCD, as well as advice for loved ones.

Overview of the Y-BOCS Scales

Purpose

The Y-BOCS™/YBOCS™ is a widely used clinical tool for assessing the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is designed to evaluate the intensity and impact of both obsessions (recurrent, intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) in individuals with OCD. The scale helps confirm diagnosis, determine the severity of the disorder, and monitor treatment progress. The Y-BOCS™, CY-BOCS™/CYBOCS™, and their second editions are administered as semi-structured interviews. The three main parts of these scales are the Symptom Checklist, Target List, and the Severity Items.

Use in Clinical Practice
& Research

Measuring Symptom Severity: Helps clinicians evaluate the severity of OCD symptoms and differentiate it from other disorders.
Treatment Monitoring: Used to track changes in symptom severity over time, during and after interventions like ERP, medications, and medical devices.
Outcome Assessment: Often used in clinical trials to assess the efficacy of new treatments for OCD. The Y-BOCS™ is a reliable and valid tool, considered the "gold standard" for OCD severity assessment, although it requires a trained clinician to administer and interpret properly. The Y-BOCS™ and C-BOCS™ have been shown sensitive to change.

CY-BOCS™

This is a version of the Y-BOCS™ intended for administration to children and adolescents with OCD.

Second Editions

The second editions of the Y-BOCS™ and CY-BOCS™ are denoted by “II”. The main reasons for introducing these revisions were to: 1) Increase sensitivity to changes in more severe OCD by expanding the upper level of the range. This required transitioning from a 5-point (0 to 4) to a 6-point (0 to 5) scale for each of the 10 items, such that the new maximum score is 50 instead of 40; and 2) Replace item #4 (resisting obsessions) that had the lowest correlation with other items and can be difficult to interpret among patients who have undergone ERP, who are taught not to resist their obsessions. The second editions can be converted to the original Y-BOCS™/CY-BOCS™ provided the rater also includes the original item #4.

Self-Report (SR) Versions

In contrast to the Y-BOCS™/CY-BOCS™, which are clinician administered, these self-rated variants are completed by the patient.

These SR versions are strictly designed for Clinical Decision Support (CDS) rather than as autonomous diagnostics. The SR instruments themselves cannot generate or confirm a diagnosis. A formal clinical diagnosis must always be assessed and confirmed by a qualified, licensed clinician.

FOCI (Florida Obsessive Compulsive Inventory)

This is a brief self-rated instrument for screening purposes. Cutoffs help the clinician determine whether further evaluation is warranted, which may include administering the Y-BOCS™/CY-BOCS™. It comes in both adult and child/adolescent versions.

LEVEL 2—Repetitive Thoughts and Behaviors

LEVEL 2—Repetitive Thoughts and Behaviors—Adult and Child (adapted from the FOCI™ and C-FOCI Severity Scale [Part B]) is a trans-diagnostic measure. This material can be reproduced in paper form without permission by clinicians for use with their own patients. Any other use, including electronic use, requires written permission from Dr. Goodman.

Authors and Scale Requests

Authors

Wayne Goodman, MD, is the principal developer of the Y-BOCS™ suite of measures for OCD and related disorders. The co-developers of the Y-BOCS™ suite of measures are Steve Rasmussen, MD, Larry Price, MD, and Eric Storch, PhD. Dr. Storch has spearheaded a long series of peer-reviewed articles on the psychometric properties of these instruments. Lawrence Scahill, MSN, PhD, has adapted the CY-BOCS™ for use in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Katharine Phillips, MD, and Eric Hollander, MD, have adapted the Y-BOCS™ for use in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

Scale Requests

Scale Requests: Use of these Y-BOCS Measures requires authorization from OCDscales, Inc.

A Formal Licensing Agreement is Required under the following conditions:

Commercial use, including industry-sponsored clinical trials;
Digital Administration or Software/App Integration: Electronic administration or inclusion in any software, web application, mobile app, ambient AI technology, Electronic Health Record (EHR or EMR) system, or other digital platform.
Additional Restrictions: Adaptations and translations require prior authorization. Publication of the Measures in any medium (e.g., articles or book chapters), public posting, and distribution are prohibited unless explicitly authorized in writing by OCDscales, Inc.

Licensing Agreement Inquiries: Please send an email to dr.g@ocdscales.com describing your request for any of the uses above. OCDscales, Inc. will determine whether a licensing agreement is required and follow up accordingly. See full list of Terms of Use.

Requesting Paper Versions for Non-commercial Use:

Although I have historically provided the paper Measures at no charge for routine clinical use, the growing volume of requests now requires additional administrative support. As of October 12, 2026, I am introducing a modest processing fee to cover the administrative work involved in reviewing requests, documenting acceptance of the Terms of Use, fulfilling approved requests, and tracking authorized use. The fee supports these administrative functions and is not a purchase price for the Measures themselves.

The process described below is intended only for routine paper-based clinical use by individual clinicians and eligible group practices. Commercial use, digitization, incorporation into an app or EHR, large-scale use, and research require separate review by OCDscales, Inc. Please email dr.g@ocdscales.com to determine whether a separate written licensing agreement is required.

Available Instruments: The following instruments are currently available for paper-based clinical use by individual clinicians and eligible group practices: Y-BOCS, Y-BOCS-II, CY-BOCS, CY-BOCS-II, FOCI, C-FOCI-PR, LEVEL 2—Repetitive Thoughts and Behaviors—Adult, and LEVEL 2—Repetitive Thoughts and Behaviors—Child Age. Spanish translations of the Y-BOCS and Y-BOCS-II are available. Japanese, Portuguese, and several other translations may be available for specific Measures.

The CY-BOCS-ASD, BDD-YBOCS, and PG-YBOCS are available by special request, require co-developer approval, and carry an additional $5 processing fee per Measure. The Y-BOCS-SR is undergoing revision and is not currently available.

Administrative Fee Structure: For authorized paper-based clinical use by individual clinicians and approved group practices, a processing fee covers the administrative work involved in reviewing your request, documenting permission and acceptance of the Terms of Use, fulfilling the approved request, and identifying the number of authorized users. The processing fee is $25 for the first scale requested, $5 for each additional scale, an additional $5 for each Measure requiring co-developer approval, and $1 for each clinician user. There are no per-administration charges for authorized paper-based clinical use, and the processing fee is not a purchase price for the Measures themselves. A $10 discount on the first-scale processing fee is available to clinicians who have completed my “Administering the Y-BOCS” course through the OCD Training School, reducing the first-scale fee from $25 to $15.

To Request Measures for Paper-Based Clinical Use: Please email me, Wayne Goodman, MD, at wkgood@gmail.com with the Measures you are requesting and a brief description of the intended use. I will review your inquiry and, if it appears appropriate for the paper-based clinical-use process, send you instructions for submitting a formal request. After the formal request is reviewed and approved, I will send you a secure Stripe invoice for the applicable processing fee. Once payment is received, I will provide the approved Measures in PDF format for printing and authorized paper-based clinical use.

Have Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Y-BOCS / YBOCS?

The Y-BOCS is a widely used clinical tool designed for administration to adults to assess the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is widely considered the gold standard for evaluating OCD severity in both clinical and research settings. The tool assesses obsessions, compulsions, and avoidance behaviors with respect to time occupied, distress, ability to control, and interference in functioning.

How is the Y-BOCS / YBOCS scored?

The Y-BOCS produces a total score between 0 and 40, based on five items for obsessions and five items for compulsions. The severity of OCD is interpreted using the following score ranges:

– 0-7: Subclinical
– 8-15: Mild
– 16-23: Moderate
– 24-31: Severe
– 32-40: Extreme

How do the Y-BOCS-II and CY-BOCS-II differ from the original versions?

The second editions (denoted by “II”) were introduced to increase sensitivity to changes in more severe OCD by expanding the upper level of the range. This required transitioning from a 5-point (0 to 4) to a 6-point (0 to 5) scale for each of the 10 items, meaning the new maximum score is 50 instead of 40. Additionally, the second editions replace item #4 (resisting obsessions), which had the lowest correlation with other items and can be difficult to interpret among patients who have undergone Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy.

Is the Y-BOCS copyrighted, and do I need permission to use it?

Yes, the Y-BOCS is copyrighted, and any use of the scales requires explicit permission from Dr. Goodman. Adaptations of the Y-BOCS suite of measures are not permitted. Translations are strictly prohibited unless approved in advance, and OCD Scales, LLC retains the copyright for any translated versions. The process for obtaining permission depends on your intended use:

– For non-commercial clinical or research use: You must email Dr. Goodman stating your specific intended use for paper (hardcopy) versions of the scales. If approved, you will be required to confirm your agreement with the Terms of Use.
– For commercial use: If your use is large-scale, commercial (such as industry-sponsored clinical trials), or involves any digitalization, you must email OCD Scales, Inc. at dr.g@ocdscales.com to determine the need for a paid licensing agreement.

Can I digitize the Y-BOCS for an app or Electronic Health Record (EHR)?

No, you cannot digitize the Y-BOCS without a paid licensing agreement. This includes incorporating the scale into an EHR, building an app, or using ambient AI during the administration of a paper version to generate a digital record. Making a digital version of a copyrighted paper document is an act of reproduction, and doing so without authorization constitutes infringement.

Is the CY-BOCS, children's version, subject to these same rules?

Yes. The CY-BOCS, which is intended for administration to children and adolescents with OCD, follows the same strict copyright and licensing guidelines. All commercial use or digitalization requires a paid licensing agreement through OCD Scales, Inc., and non-commercial paper use requires direct permission.

Are the Y-BOCS-II, CY-BOCS-II, FOCI, and Self-Rated (SR) versions subject to these same rules?

Yes, they follow the same guidelines. The Y-BOCS-II and other derivatives of the Y-BOCS suite of measures follow the same strict copyright and licensing guidelines. (Note: The only exception is the Level 2—Repetitive Thoughts and Behaviors measure, which may be reproduced in paper form by clinicians for use with their own patients without permission. However, any other use, including electronic use, still requires written permission from Dr. Goodman).