Development and validation of the Japanese version of Responsibility Attitude Scale and Responsibility Interpretations Questionnaire

Abstract

Distorted beliefs about responsibility attitude and interpretation are a central theme in Salkovskis’ cognitive model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This study aimed to develop Japanese versions of the Responsibility Attitude Scale (RAS-J) and Responsibility Interpretation Questionnaire (RIQ-J). Participants in Study 1 were 118 non-clinical Japanese students who completed the RAS-J and RIQ-J to confirm the test-retest reliability of these scales. In Study 2, 98 participants (OCD group = 37; anxiety control group = 24; healthy control group = 37) completed the RAS-J, RIQ-J and other measures to assess the validity of the RAS-J and RIQ-J. As a result of analysis, The RAS-J and RIQ-J demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability and internal consistency. In addition, both scales had adequate concurrent validity, demonstrated by significant correlations with other measures of OCD, anxiety and depression. Group comparison data using ANOVA with Bonferroni method indicated that RAS-J and RIQ-J scores for the OCD group not only differed from the non-clinical group, but also from the clinically anxious comparison group. This study demonstrated that the newly developed RAS-J and RIQ-J effectively measure responsibility attitude and responsibility interpretation in Japanese OCD patients.

Keywords:

• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Responsibility Interpretation Questionnaire
• Responsibility Attitude Scale
• Japanese

Notes on contributors

Ryotaro Ishikawa is a researcher in Chiba University. His research interests are obsessive compulsive disorder and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Osamu Kobori is an associate professor in Chiba University. His research interests are health anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Daisuke Ikota is a researcher in Chiba University. His research interests are obsessive compulsive disorder and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Eiji Shimizu is a professor in Chiba University. His research interests are anxiety disorders and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Japan Research Foundation for a Mental Health Okamoto [grant number 17].