Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire – ATQ
Measures the frequency of automatic negative statements about the self, which play an important role in the development and maintenance of depression.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire – ATQ was developed by Philip C. Kendall and Steven D. Hollon (1980). It is designed to measure Negative Automatic Thoughts. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Personal Maladjustment and Desire for Change (PMDC), Negative Self-Concepts and Negative Expectations (NSNE), Low Self-Esteem (LSE), Helplessness.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Maladjustment and Desire for Change (PMDC) | 7,10,14,20,26 | 5 |
| Negative Self-Concepts and Negative Expectations (NSNE) | 2,3,9,21,23,24,28 | 7 |
| Low Self-Esteem (LSE) | 17,18 | 2 |
| Helplessness | 29,30 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Moderately often, 4 = Often, 5 = All the time.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 30 to 150. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of negative automatic thoughts: 30 – 50
- Moderate level of negative automatic thoughts: 51 – 100
- High level of negative automatic thoughts: 101 – 150
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.97.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.