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Psychometric properties of the automatic thoughts questionnaire—positive with inpatient adolescents

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Abstract

The psychometric properties of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire—Positive (ATQ-P; Ingram & Wisnicki, 1988) were examined in 206 adolescent inpatients. The ATQ-P demonstrated excellent internal consistency. ATQ-P scores converged significantly with positive emotionality and inversely with a variety of negative affect measures. Discriminant validity was demonstrated by significantly stronger relationships among ATQ-P scores and depressive constructs than among ATQ-P scores and anxious constructs. When depression was partialed from the ATQ-P and anxiety relationships, ATQ-P scores were independent of anxious constructs. ATQ-P scores were significantly lower in depressed than nondepressed adolescents, though this relationship was moderated by gender. Factor structure of ATQ-P items was consistent with adult samples. Results support the psychometric properties of the ATQ-P and the use of positive cognitions to discriminate depression from anxiety in adolescents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Mississippi College, 39058, Clinton, Mississippi

    John B. Jolly Psy.D. (ABPP)

  2. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA

    David C. Wiesner

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  1. John B. Jolly Psy.D.
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  2. David C. Wiesner
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The authors thank David Haaga, Rick Ingram, and an anonymous reviewer for their comments and suggestions.

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Jolly, J.B., Wiesner, D.C. Psychometric properties of the automatic thoughts questionnaire—positive with inpatient adolescents. Cogn Ther Res 20, 481–498 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02227909

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