Psychometric Evaluation of the Impulsive-Compulsive Behaviours Checklist (ICB) in a Spanish Prison Population

Impulsivity and compulsivity are key transdiagnostic constructs underlying addictive and criminal behaviors, often conflated as facets of impaired self-control. While impulsivity has been extensively assessed through experimental paradigms and self-report instruments, compulsivity is typically evaluated using similar tools, with few specific measures designed for its distinct characteristics. This study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the Impulsive-Compulsive Behaviours Checklist (ICB) in a prison population. The ICB was translated and administered to 700 incarcerated males (M_age = 37.33 years) who completed the instrument voluntarily. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure comprising 34 items. Internal consistency was satisfactory, with McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.79 to 0.80 across factors. Convergent validity was established through correlations with related measures (UPPS-P, OBQ-44, EuropASI, SCL-90-R). Findings support the psychometric soundness of the Spanish ICB, providing a valid and reliable tool to assess impulsive and compulsive traits in forensic settings.