Abstract
Background Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), including skin-picking, hair-pulling, and nail-biting, commonly occur in youth, even at elevated/problematic levels, and are associated with a number of other psychiatric symptoms. The present study examined the internal consistency of a brief screening tool for BFRBs as well as the prevalence, severity, and correlates of BFRBs in a sample of youth with a primary anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods Ninety-three youth-parent dyads presenting for treatment for anxiety or OCD completed study measures including the Repetitive Body Focused Behavior Scale — Parent (RBFBS), which includes subscales for skin-picking, hair-pulling, and nail-biting, as well as a number of additional clinician-, parent-, and child-rated scales. Results The RBFBS demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency. BFRBs were endorsed in 55% of youths, with elevated levels in 27%. Skin-picking was the most common BFRB (38%), followed by nail-biting (34%) and hair-pulling (4%). Youth with BFRBs, as compared to those without, were rated as more avoidant by their parents. Among those with BFRBs, more avoidant tendencies, anxiety sensitivity, and child-rated panic, separation, and generalized anxiety symptoms were associated with elevated BFRB severity. BFRBs were equally common but more likely to be elevated among youth with a primary anxiety, than OCD, diagnosis. Discussion Results provide initial support for the RBFBS as a brief screening tool for the three common BFRBs. In addition, the results suggest avoidant tendencies and physical manifestations of distress may be particularly relevant to the escalation of BFRB symptoms in youth.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 10-17 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Comprehensive Psychiatry |
| Volume | 81 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2018 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Initial psychometrics, outcomes, and correlates of the Repetitive Body Focused Behavior Scale : Examination in a sample of youth with anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder. / Selles, Robert R.; La Buissonnière Ariza, Valérie; McBride, Nicole M.; Dammann, Julie; Whiteside, Stephen Perry; Storch, Eric A.
In: Comprehensive Psychiatry, Vol. 81, 01.02.2018, p. 10-17.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Initial psychometrics, outcomes, and correlates of the Repetitive Body Focused Behavior Scale
T2 - Examination in a sample of youth with anxiety and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder
AU - Selles, Robert R.
AU - La Buissonnière Ariza, Valérie
AU - McBride, Nicole M.
AU - Dammann, Julie
AU - Whiteside, Stephen Perry
AU - Storch, Eric A.
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Background Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), including skin-picking, hair-pulling, and nail-biting, commonly occur in youth, even at elevated/problematic levels, and are associated with a number of other psychiatric symptoms. The present study examined the internal consistency of a brief screening tool for BFRBs as well as the prevalence, severity, and correlates of BFRBs in a sample of youth with a primary anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods Ninety-three youth-parent dyads presenting for treatment for anxiety or OCD completed study measures including the Repetitive Body Focused Behavior Scale — Parent (RBFBS), which includes subscales for skin-picking, hair-pulling, and nail-biting, as well as a number of additional clinician-, parent-, and child-rated scales. Results The RBFBS demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency. BFRBs were endorsed in 55% of youths, with elevated levels in 27%. Skin-picking was the most common BFRB (38%), followed by nail-biting (34%) and hair-pulling (4%). Youth with BFRBs, as compared to those without, were rated as more avoidant by their parents. Among those with BFRBs, more avoidant tendencies, anxiety sensitivity, and child-rated panic, separation, and generalized anxiety symptoms were associated with elevated BFRB severity. BFRBs were equally common but more likely to be elevated among youth with a primary anxiety, than OCD, diagnosis. Discussion Results provide initial support for the RBFBS as a brief screening tool for the three common BFRBs. In addition, the results suggest avoidant tendencies and physical manifestations of distress may be particularly relevant to the escalation of BFRB symptoms in youth.
AB - Background Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), including skin-picking, hair-pulling, and nail-biting, commonly occur in youth, even at elevated/problematic levels, and are associated with a number of other psychiatric symptoms. The present study examined the internal consistency of a brief screening tool for BFRBs as well as the prevalence, severity, and correlates of BFRBs in a sample of youth with a primary anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods Ninety-three youth-parent dyads presenting for treatment for anxiety or OCD completed study measures including the Repetitive Body Focused Behavior Scale — Parent (RBFBS), which includes subscales for skin-picking, hair-pulling, and nail-biting, as well as a number of additional clinician-, parent-, and child-rated scales. Results The RBFBS demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency. BFRBs were endorsed in 55% of youths, with elevated levels in 27%. Skin-picking was the most common BFRB (38%), followed by nail-biting (34%) and hair-pulling (4%). Youth with BFRBs, as compared to those without, were rated as more avoidant by their parents. Among those with BFRBs, more avoidant tendencies, anxiety sensitivity, and child-rated panic, separation, and generalized anxiety symptoms were associated with elevated BFRB severity. BFRBs were equally common but more likely to be elevated among youth with a primary anxiety, than OCD, diagnosis. Discussion Results provide initial support for the RBFBS as a brief screening tool for the three common BFRBs. In addition, the results suggest avoidant tendencies and physical manifestations of distress may be particularly relevant to the escalation of BFRB symptoms in youth.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85035790420&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85035790420&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.11.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 29195104
AN - SCOPUS:85035790420
VL - 81
SP - 10
EP - 17
JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry
JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry
SN - 0010-440X
ER -