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Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ)

Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) Test

In about 6 minutes, see how often automatic negative thoughts show up and shape your mood. Use the results to pinpoint key thinking patterns and track change over time.

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Questions: 306 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

12,357 views

1,237 completions

970 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/5

Helplessness (H)

Measures how strongly a person experiences thoughts of being unable to cope with difficulties or influence outcomes.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.4: Low | 2.5 – 3.6: Moderate | 3.7 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting intermittent feelings of reduced control and difficulty coping that may arise in some situations but are not consistently dominant.

example score

2/5

Low Self-Esteem (LSE) (LSE)

LSE measures the frequency of automatic thoughts associated with low self-esteem and insecurity.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.3: Low | 2.4 – 3.6: Moderate | 3.7 – 5: High

A score of 2 suggests a low level of low-self-esteem-related automatic thoughts, indicating relatively limited insecurity in this area.

example score

4/5

NSNE (N)

NSNE measures the frequency and intensity of automatic thoughts reflecting negative self-view and pessimistic expectations.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.4: Low | 2.5 – 3.4: Moderate | 3.5 – 5: High

A score of 4 falls in the High range, suggesting frequent negative self-appraisals and adverse expectations in automatic thinking.

example score

3/5

PMDC (P)

PMDC measures social maladjustment and the intensity of a desire to change one’s current situation.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.3: Low | 2.4 – 3.6: Moderate | 3.7 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting some difficulties with social adaptation and a noticeable wish for change, but not at a pronounced level.

example score

66/150

Total Score (TS)

Reflects the overall intensity and frequency of negative automatic thoughts and how strongly a person tends to believe them.

Low

Moderate

High

30 – 69: Low | 70 – 109: Moderate | 110 – 150: High

A score of 66 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively infrequent negative automatic thoughts and lower trust in them compared with higher scores.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People in a low mood

46%OF USERS

They notice persistent sadness, fatigue, or loss of interest and want to understand how often negative thoughts are looping in their mind.

Clients in therapy

32%OF USERS

They are already working with a psychologist or psychotherapist and use the results to track changes in negative thinking over time.

Specialists assessing depression

22%OF USERS

Psychologists and counselors use it to quickly quantify automatic negative thoughts and decide what to focus on in treatment.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Helplessness (H)

Average

3.9

Normal range

3.2 — 4.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

LSE (L)

Average

Normal range

3.5 — 4.5

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

NSNE (N)

Average

2.2

Normal range

1.6 — 2.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

PMDC (P)

Average

2.5

Normal range

1.8 — 3.2

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Overall score (Os)

Average

84.6

Normal range

67.1 — 102.2

min.

max.

150

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures how often common negative automatic thoughts occur. It helps estimate how strongly these thoughts are linked to low mood.

How is it completed?

Read each statement and rate how often it has occurred recently. Answer all items using the same rating scale.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

It typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. It contains 30 statements.

How are results interpreted?

Higher scores generally indicate more frequent negative automatic thoughts. Results are interpreted alongside clinical information rather than used as a standalone diagnosis.

How is it used in therapy or follow-up?

It can help identify specific thought patterns to target in cognitive work. Repeated administrations can track changes in thought frequency over time.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) Test - Symptoms and Signs

cognitive therapy cbt

This self-report measure assesses the frequency of negative, automatic cognitions commonly associated with depressed mood. The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) is intended to support clinical formulation by characterizing the extent to which such thoughts are experienced.

The instrument includes 30 items and typically requires about 6 minutes to complete. Respondents rate how often each thought has occurred over a specified period, yielding a quantitative index that can be used to identify prominent cognitive themes and to monitor change over time. The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) was developed by Steven D. Hollon.

Author: aaron-t-beck, Steven D. Hollon

Literature: Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. Cognitive therapy of depression. Guilford Press. 1979.; Hollon, S. D., & Kendall, P. C. Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an automatic thoughts questionnaire. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 1980.

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