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The Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire: Psychometric validation for an Australian population

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Australian Journal of Psychology

Published online on

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the English‐language edition of the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD‐Quest) and to examine its utility as a clinical assessment tool of cognitive distortions. Materials and Method The CD‐Quest is a comprehensive assessment measure of 15 cognitive distortions along the dimensions of frequency and intensity. To examine the psychometric properties of the CD‐Quest, a sample of 127 university students (22 male, 105 female) completed an online survey composed of the CD‐Quest, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale short‐version (DASS). Results Confirmatory factor analysis supports the unifactorial structure proposed by the Brazilian–Portuguese edition. Internal consistency was adequate at .80. Strong positive correlations for the subscales of frequency and intensity (r between .78 and .90) demonstrate validity of the subscales. Convergent validity with the ATQ (r = .57) and the DASS subscales of depression (r = .45), anxiety (r = .38), and stress (r = .41) was observed. The sensitivity to delineate between groups with and without symptomology for depression, anxiety, and stress supports the validity of the measure. Conclusions Psychometric analysis demonstrated the CD‐Quest to be a valid and reliable unifactorial assessment tool of cognitive distortions. Although further studies using clinical samples are needed, these findings provide preliminary support for the use of the CD‐Quest in the assessment of cognitive distortions among individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress‐related disorders.