Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale

What it measures

Measures maladaptive beliefs and attitudes associated with vulnerability to depression. Items capture rigid, absolute rules about personal worth, success, and approval. Widely used as a cognitive vulnerability measure in diathesis-stress models of depression and as an outcome measure in cognitive therapy.

Response format

Likert (1–7, totally agree to totally disagree); total 40–280; higher = more dysfunctional

Representative items

• If I do not do as well as other people, it means I am an inferior human being.
• I should be upset if I make a mistake.
• A person should not be worthy of others' regard if he does not succeed.
• I must be a useful, productive, creative person or life has no purpose.
• If I am to be a worthwhile person, I must be truly outstanding in at least one major respect.

Usage notes & scoring

Two parallel forms (Form A and Form B) of 40 items each; short form DAS-17 (de Graaf et al., 2009) available. Higher scores = more dysfunctional attitudes. Widely used as a cognitive vulnerability measure in prospective depression research and as a treatment outcome in cognitive therapy. Freely available.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Weissman, A.N., & Beck, A.T. (1978). Development and validation of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: A preliminary investigation. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, Canada.

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