Analysis

The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire – Beliefs (ATQ-B) is a psychometric scale developed to assess automatic thoughts and the associated beliefs individuals hold about these thoughts. Automatic thoughts are rapid, involuntary, and often negative cognitive processes that arise in response to various situations, significantly impacting psychological well-being. The ATQ-B extends the original Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) by incorporating belief-related items, assessing how individuals perceive and interpret these thoughts.

Objective

The primary aim of the ATQ-B is to measure automatic negative thoughts and beliefs related to these thoughts, aiding in understanding their contribution to psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Scoring Method

Responses are rated using a Likert scale: 1 = Never to 5 = Always, 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree (depending on the question format). Higher scores indicate a greater presence of automatic negative thoughts and associated maladaptive beliefs.

Bibliography

Hollon, S. D., & Kendall, P. C. (1980). Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4(4), 383-395.