Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-N)

Abstract

The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-N or ATQ-30) is a seminal 30-item, self-report psychometric instrument designed to quantify the frequency of negative automatic thoughts (NATs). Developed by Steven D. Hollon and Phillip C. Kendall in 1980, the scale was created specifically to operationalize the cognitive model of depression proposed by Aaron T. Beck. It requires respondents to rate the frequency of specific negative self-statements experienced over the past week on a 5-point Likert scale, yielding a total score that correlates positively with the severity of depressive symptomatology.

Keywords

Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, ATQ-N, ATQ-30, negative automatic thoughts, NATs, cognitive assessment, depression, cognitive theory, psychological assessment, self-report.

Authors

Steven D. Hollon, Phillip C. Kendall

Purpose

The primary purpose of the ATQ-N is to provide a quantitative measure of the cognitive component of depressive disorders, focusing on the frequency of spontaneous, negative self-referential cognitions. It serves as a crucial tool in both clinical and research settings to assess the intensity of cognitive distortions characteristic of depression.

Clinically, the ATQ-N assists in treatment planning, particularly for cognitive therapies, by identifying specific maladaptive thought patterns. It is also used to monitor treatment efficacy, as reductions in ATQ scores often reflect successful cognitive restructuring and improved clinical outcomes. Because it is highly sensitive to the negative thinking patterns central to Beck’s theory, it is an invaluable assessment instrument in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Construct

The ATQ-N measures the psychological construct of Negative Automatic Thoughts (NATs), which are defined as brief, fleeting, and often distressing thoughts that occur spontaneously without conscious effort in response to specific situations or events. These thoughts are typically negative, self-critical, and highly influential on an individual’s mood, behavior, and overall functioning.

The development of the ATQ-N is rooted directly in the Aaron T. Beck’s cognitive theory of depression, which posits that underlying negative schemas lead to dysfunctional automatic thoughts, thereby maintaining depressive states. The scale effectively captures the essence of the negative cognitive triad—negative views of the self, the world, and the future—through its comprehensive set of 30 items related to personal failure, low self-esteem, and hopelessness.

Validity

The ATQ-N has demonstrated strong evidence of validity across numerous studies. It exhibits excellent discriminant validity, successfully differentiating between depressed individuals and non-depressed control groups, as well as distinguishing depressed individuals from those suffering from other anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the scale shows robust concurrent validity, correlating highly with other established measures of depressive severity, such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

The instrument’s ability to measure the specific cognitive domain of depression, rather than generalized distress, supports its construct validity. Studies involving shortened versions, like the ATQ-15 and ATQ-8, further confirm that the core negative self-statements remain valid indicators of depressotypic cognition, making the scale highly relevant for assessing the theoretical underpinnings of cognitive models.

Reliability

Psychometric evaluations confirm that the ATQ-N is a reliable instrument. It possesses high internal consistency, typically yielding Cronbach’s alpha coefficients well above 0.90, indicating that its 30 items measure a unified underlying construct of negative cognition. The scale also demonstrates good test-retest reliability over short intervals, showing stability in scores, which supports its utility in clinical practice for tracking relatively stable cognitive patterns over time.

Factor Analysis

While the original ATQ-N was often treated as a unidimensional measure of overall negative cognitions, subsequent factor analytic studies have typically identified several distinct, yet correlated, factors or subscales. These subscales provide clinicians and researchers with a more nuanced understanding of the specific domains of negative thinking experienced by the respondent. According to research on the ATQ-30, key factors identified include:

• Personal Maladjustment and Desire for Change (PMDC): Reflects feelings of inadequacy and the perceived need for life alteration (Items 7, 10, 14, 20, 26).
• Negative Self-Concepts and Negative Expectations (NSNE): Pertains to self-derogation and pessimistic outlooks regarding the future (Items 2, 3, 9, 21, 23, 24, 28).
• Low Self-Esteem (LSE): Focuses on feelings of self-hatred and worthlessness (Items 17, 18).
• Helplessness: Reflects feelings of inability to cope or complete tasks (Items 29, 30).

Instrument

Test Type: Psychometric Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: 30 items (ATQ-N/ATQ-30). Responses are measured on a 5-point Likert scale based on frequency during the past week.

Language Available: English (Original), Persian (ATQ-Persian), and others via translation studies.

Population Group: Clinical and Non-Clinical populations, primarily utilized in individuals exhibiting symptoms of depression.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (The Children’s Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, CATQ, is a related measure for younger populations).

Population Details: Originally validated on depressed clinical samples to assess depressotypic cognitions, but also used in general populations to measure subclinical negative ideation.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate each negative statement based on frequency (1 = Not at all/Never to 5 = All the time/Always). Scoring involves summing the item scores, resulting in a range of 30 to 150. Higher scores indicate greater frequency of negative automatic thoughts. Some research also explores a secondary “Degree of Belief” rating (1 = not at all to 5 = totally).

Keywords

Psychological scale, cognitive distortion, self-statements, hopelessness, self-esteem, clinical psychology, psychometrics, Hollon and Kendall, Beck’s cognitive triad.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The ATQ was first published in 1980 by Hollon and Kendall in the journal Cognitive Therapy and Research. For commercial or large-scale clinical use, permission is typically required from the copyright holders or publishers of the associated academic journals.

The original PDF of the instrument can be found here: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2e55/17c9a44c05b12cdf4d8e845cceb9b7be3f36.pdf. Other resources are available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0013164402062001008 and https://app.box.com/shared/static/vtb8csfdg4.doc.

Reference’s

• Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: Guilford Press.
• Dobson, K. S., Hollon, S. D., & Evans, M. D. (1991). Cognitive therapy and pharmacotherapy for depression: So which is better? Clinical Psychology Review, 11, 449-479.
• Ghassemzadeh, H., Mojtabai, R., Karamghadiri, N., Ebrahimkhani, N. (2006). Psychometric properties of a Persian-language version of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire: ATQ-Persian. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 52(2):127-37.
• Harrell, Thomas H., Ryon, Nancy B. (1983). Cognitive-behavioral assessment of depression: Clinical validation of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(5): 721-725.
• Hollon, S. D., & Kendall, P. C. (1980). Cognitive self-statement questionnaire: Development and validation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4, 383-393.
• Hollon, Steven D., Kendall, Philip C., Lumry, Ann. (1986). Specificity of depressotypic cognitions in clinical depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95(1): 52-59.
• Ingram, R.E., Wisnicki, K.S. (1988). Assessment of positive automatic cognition. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56(6):898-902.
• Kazdin Alan E. (1990). Evaluation of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire: Negative Cognitive Processes and Depression Among Children. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2(1): 73-77.
• Netemeyer, Richard G., Netemeyer, D. A, Et al. (2002). Psychometric properties of shortened versions of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62(1): 111-129.

Items of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-N)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I feel like I’m up against the world.

2. I’m no good.

3. Why can’t I ever succeed?

4. No one understands me.

5. I’ve let people down.

6. I don’t think I can go on.

7. I wish I were a better person.

8. I’m so weak.

9. My life’s not going the way I want it to.

10. I’m so disappointed in myself.

11. Nothing feels good anymore.

12. I can’t stand this anymore.

13. I can’t get started.

14. What’s wrong with me?

15. I wish I were somewhere else.

16. I can’t get things together.

17. I hate myself.

18. I’m worthless.

19. I wish I could just disappear.

20. What’s the matter with me?

21. I’m a loser.

22. My life is a mess.

23. I’m a failure.

24. I’ll never make it.

25. I feel so helpless.

26. Something has to change.

27. There must be something wrong with me.

28. My future is bleak.

29. It’s just not worth it.

30. I can’t finish anything.

Scoring Frequency: (1) = Not at all to (5) = All the time

Degree of Belief (Optional Scoring): 1 = “not at all”, 2 = “somewhat”, 3 = “moderately “, 4 = “very much”, and 5 = “totally”

Shortened Versions:

• ATQ-15 Items: 2, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.
• ATQ-8 Items: 2, 10, 14, 18, 25, 26, 28 and 30.