Scale Overview
The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire – Revised (ATQ-R) was developed by Kendall, P. C., Howard, B. L., & Hays, R. C. (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.
Total scores range from 30 to 150. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of negative automatic thoughts: 30 – 50
- Moderate level of negative automatic thoughts: 51 – 80
- High level of negative automatic thoughts: 81 – 150
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha > 0.90 for negative thoughts, > 0.85 for positive thoughts.
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.