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Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale–Shopping Version (YBOCS-SV)

Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale–Shopping Version (YBOCS-SV) Test

Understand how compulsive shopping thoughts and urges affect your life in about 2 minutes. Get a clear snapshot to guide care planning and track progress over time.

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Questions: 102 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

19,738 views

1,152 completions

990 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

8/20

Thoughts (T)

Measures how frequent and intense intrusive shopping-related thoughts are and how much they interfere with daily functioning.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 8 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting intrusive shopping thoughts are present at a noticeable level but not at the most severe end of the scale.

example score

21/40

Compulsive Buying Behavior Scale (CBBS)

Measures the severity of compulsive buying thoughts and behaviors and their impact on control and functioning.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 5: Low | 6 – 15: Moderate | 16 – 40: High

A score of 21 falls in the High range, suggesting more frequent or intense compulsive buying urges with greater difficulty controlling spending and potential negative consequences.

example score

10/20

Behavior (B)

Measures the frequency and controllability of compulsive buying behaviors and how strongly they drive purchasing actions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable compulsive buying behaviors that can be difficult to control at times.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Worried frequent shoppers

44%OF USERS

People who feel their shopping urges are hard to control and want to understand how much the thoughts and behaviors are interfering with daily life.

People in therapy

33%OF USERS

Clients working on compulsive buying who use the questions to track symptom severity and changes in control over time.

Clinicians and researchers

23%OF USERS

Mental health professionals and study teams who screen for compulsive buying symptoms and monitor treatment or research outcomes.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Thoughts (T)

Average

10.3

Normal range

6.9 — 13.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Compulsive Buying Behavior Scale (CBBS)

Average

21.6

Normal range

15.5 — 27.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Behavior (B)

Average

7.7

Normal range

4.2 — 11.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this scale measure?

It measures the severity of obsessive thoughts about buying and the extent of compulsive purchasing behaviors. It focuses on time spent, distress, interference, resistance, and control.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 2 minutes. The scale includes 10 items.

What time period should be considered when answering?

Responses should reflect the past 7 days unless otherwise specified by the administrator. If symptoms vary, rate the most typical level during that period.

How should responses be selected?

Choose the option that best matches the usual intensity or frequency of the symptom. If uncertain between two options, select the higher severity rating.

How are results used?

Scores are used to describe symptom severity and to identify areas needing clinical attention. They may also be used to monitor change over time during treatment.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for Compulsive Buying, YBOCS-SV Test

Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale–Shopping Version (YBOCS-SV) Test - Symptoms and Signs

addiction financial behavior ocd shopaholism

This instrument evaluates the severity of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors related to shopping. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale-Shopping Version (YBOCS-SV) is adapted from the Yale-Brown framework to quantify symptom burden and related functional impact.

The measure contains 10 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Items assess key dimensions such as time occupied by shopping-related obsessions/urges, interference, distress, resistance, and perceived control.

Scores can support clinical characterization and symptom monitoring over time, including treatment response and change in compulsive buying features. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale-Shopping Version (YBOCS-SV) is attributed to Monahan and Goodman.

Author: Goodman, W., Monahan, P.

Literature: Monahan, P., Black, D. W., & Gabel, J. Reliability and validity of a scale to measure change in persons with compulsive buying. Psychiatry Research. 1996.

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