Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire
Measures the frequency of the negative automatic thoughts linked to depression.
In one minute
How it works in 3 steps
- You respond: You mark how frequent negative thoughts have been in the recent period.
- A total is produced: The frequency of the thoughts turns into a score.
- It is interpreted: The result is read together with your mood and life context.
Who it informs
When professional support helps
What does the ATQ measure?
According to the cognitive behavioural approach, our thoughts affect our feelings and our behaviour. This scale makes visible how often and how dominant negative automatic thoughts are. In this way it turns a vague sense of 'thinking badly about myself' into something that can be observed and worked with.
A rise in the frequency of these thoughts points to an area where cognitive work may be helpful. Noticing these thoughts is the first step towards working on them and loosening their grip.
How is it scored?
The frequency is marked for each thought and the scores are summed. A high total points to negative automatic thoughts being prominent.
- Items
- 30
- Score range
- 0–150
- Administration
- Self / observer report
What do the score bands mean?
The ranges below are a general frame. No band makes a diagnosis on its own; a result only becomes meaningful when a clinical psychologist interprets it alongside your life story.
| Score | General interpretation |
|---|---|
| 30–59 | Normal |
| 60–89 | Moderate-level negative thoughts |
| 90–150 | High-level negative thoughts |
Limitation: It is a screening tool and a scale never makes a diagnosis on its own. The frequency of thoughts should be interpreted together with a clinical conversation, since a high score can also appear in anxiety and low self-esteem, not only in low mood.
Psychometrics and source
The internal consistency of the original form is very high (Cronbach's alpha around .96); the Turkish adaptation was carried out by Şahin and Şahin and showed strong convergent validity with depression scales.
Original source: Hollon, S.D. & Kendall, P.C. (1980).
How is this scale used at Mete Psikoloji?
At Mete Psikoloji, in cognitive behavioural work this scale is used to understand negative thought patterns and to follow change over the course of the process. Your scores are recorded and followed in your personal portal; your clinical psychologist interprets them together with you. Clients seen online complete and view the scale in the portal, and clients seen in person are followed in the same portal.
Related reading
Did your result give you pause?
A scale is only a starting point. By planning an assessment session with our clinical psychologists, you can consider your result alongside the context of your life.