Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire – Revised (ATQ-R)
Measures the frequency of positive and negative automatic thoughts associated with depression.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire – Revised (ATQ-R) was developed by Philip C. Kendall, Steven D. Hollon, Ann Lumry, et al. (1989). It is designed to measure Cognitive self-statements in depression. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 40 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Negative Automatic Thoughts, Positive Automatic Thoughts.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Negative Automatic Thoughts | 1,2,4,5,6,8,9,11,12,14,15,17,18,19,21,22,23,25,26,27,29,30,31,33,34,35,36,38,39,40 | 30 |
| Positive Automatic Thoughts | 3,7,10,13,16,20,24,28,32,37 | 10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = Somewhat, 3 = Moderately, 4 = Very much, 5 = Totally.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > .90 for both subscales).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.