Validation of the clutter image rating (CIR) scale among psychiatric outpatients in Singapore

BACKGROUND: The Clutter Image Rating (CIR) Scale though extensively used to assess hoarding behavior, has mainly been validated in Western populations. METHODS: The current study sought to validate the CIR in a sample of psychiatric outpatients (n = 500) in Singapore. Convergent and divergent validity as well as inter-observer reliabilities between participant CIR and interviewer-rated CIR were calculated. RESULTS: The CIR performed fairly in identifying participants with and without hoarding problems according to the Savings Inventory Revised (SI-R). The CIR composite demonstrated good convergent validity with the SI-R clutter subscale, the SI-R total and the Activities of Daily Living Scale for Hoarding (ADL-H) scale and discriminant validity with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire – Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) scale. CONCLUSIONS: Findings add valuable knowledge to the utility of the CIR in an Asian population.