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Dysfunctional Attitude Scale
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About Dysfunctional Attitude Scale
Scale Name
Dysfunctional Attitude Scale
Author Details
Aaron T. Beck and Arlene Weissman
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) was developed by Aaron T. Beck and colleagues in the 1970s to measure negative thoughts and beliefs that are associated with depression. It is based on Beck’s cognitive theory of depression, which proposes that people with depression have a set of negative and distorted thoughts about themselves, the world, and the future.
The DAS is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 40 items, each of which is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from “totally disagree” to “totally agree.” The items assess a variety of dysfunctional attitudes, including:
- Negative self-evaluation (e.g., “I am a failure.”)
- Demands on others (e.g., “Others should always treat me fairly.”)
- Demands on the world (e.g., “Life should be fair.”)
- Intolerance of uncertainty (e.g., “I must have everything under control.”)
The DAS is a widely used and well-validated measure of dysfunctional attitudes. It has been shown to be reliable and valid in a variety of populations, including clinical and non-clinical samples. The DAS is also sensitive to change, meaning that it can be used to track the progress of treatment for depression.
The DAS can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Screening for depression
- Assessing the severity of depression
- Identifying specific dysfunctional attitudes that may be contributing to depression.
- Monitoring the progress of treatment for depression
- Conducting research on the cognitive factors associated with depression.
The DAS is a valuable tool for mental health professionals, researchers, and individuals who want to learn more about their own thoughts and beliefs. If you are concerned that you may have dysfunctional attitudes, you can talk to a mental health professional or take the DAS online.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Make sure the person understands the instructions. Explain that the DAS is a questionnaire that measures negative thoughts and beliefs, and that the person should answer each item honestly.
- Provide a quiet and comfortable environment for the person to complete the DAS.
- Allow the person to take as much time as they need to complete the DAS.
- Do not pressure the person to answer any questions that they are not comfortable answering.
- If you are administering the DAS individually, you may want to ask the person to clarify their answers to some of the items. This can help you to better understand the person’s dysfunctional attitudes and how they may be contributing to their depression.
Reliability and Validity
The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) is a reliable and valid measure of dysfunctional attitudes. It has been widely studied and has been shown to be effective in predicting the onset and severity of depression.
Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure over time and across different situations. The DAS has been shown to be highly reliable, with internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) typically above 0.90. This means that the items on the DAS are highly correlated with each other, and that the scale is measuring a single underlying construct (dysfunctional attitudes).
Validity refers to the degree to which a measure assesses what it is intended to assess. The DAS has been shown to have good construct validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity.
- Construct validity: The DAS has been shown to correlate with other measures of dysfunctional attitudes, such as the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Negative Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (NATQ). This suggests that the DAS is measuring the same construct (dysfunctional attitudes) as these other measures.
- Convergent validity: The DAS has been shown to correlate with other measures of depression, such as the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). This suggests that the DAS is measuring a construct that is closely related to depression.
- Discriminant validity: The DAS has been shown to discriminate between people with depression and people without depression. This means that the DAS is able to correctly identify people with depression, and that it is not simply measuring general psychological distress.
Available Versions
40-Items
Reference
Weissman, A. N., & Beck, A. T. (1978). Development and validation of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: A preliminary investigation.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the DAS?
A: The DAS is a self-report questionnaire that measures negative thoughts and beliefs associated with depression.
Q: How does it work?
A: The DAS consists of 40 items, each of which is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from “totally disagree” to “totally agree.” The items assess a variety of dysfunctional attitudes, such as negative self-evaluation, demands on others, and demands on the world.
Q: Who should take the DAS?
A: The DAS can be taken by anyone who is interested in learning more about their own thoughts and beliefs, or who is concerned that they may have dysfunctional attitudes associated with depression.
Q: How do I interpret my DAS score?
A: The higher your total score on the DAS, the more dysfunctional attitudes you have. Scores of 100 or higher are considered to be clinically significant.
Q: How can I change my dysfunctional attitudes?
A: There are a number of ways to change dysfunctional attitudes. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective form of therapy for this purpose. CBT can help you to identify and challenge your dysfunctional thoughts, and to develop more realistic and helpful ways of thinking.
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