ERIC Number: EJ766173
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-3590
EISSN: N/A
Efficiently Assessing Negative Cognition in Depression: An Item Response Theory Analysis of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale
Beevers, Christopher G.; Strong, David R.; Meyer, Bjorn; Pilkonis, Paul A.; Miller, Ivan R.
Psychological Assessment, v19 n2 p199-209 Jun 2007
Despite a central role for dysfunctional attitudes in cognitive theories of depression and the widespread use of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, form A (DAS-A; A. Weissman, 1979), the psychometric development of the DAS-A has been relatively limited. The authors used nonparametric item response theory methods to examine the DAS-A items and develop a briefer version of the scale. Using DAS-A data obtained from depressed participants enrolled in 2 large depression treatment studies (N = 367), the authors developed a 9-item DAS form (DAS-SF-sub-1). In addition, because 2 versions of the DAS are needed for certain study designs, they also developed a 2nd short version (DAS-SF-sub-2). These short forms were highly correlated with the original 40-item DAS-A (rs ranged from 0.91 to 0.93), exhibited change similar to that of the DAS-A over the course of treatment, were moderately correlated with related self-report assessments, predicted concurrent depression severity, and predicted change in depression from before to after treatment. Taken together, the authors believe the DAS-SF-sub-1 and DAS-SF-sub-2 provide an efficient and accurate assessment of dysfunctional attitudes among depressed individuals.
Descriptors: Measures (Individuals), Psychometrics, Depression (Psychology), Item Response Theory, Schemata (Cognition), Evaluation Methods, Severity (of Disability), Item Analysis, Attitude Measures, Negative Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A