A 30-item questionnaire was developed to measure the frequency of automatic negative thoughts (negative self-statements) associated with depression. Undergraduates were asked to recall dysphoric experiences and report associated cognitions. One hundred representative cognitions were selected and administered to a second sample, along with the MMPI D scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Thirty items were identified that discriminated between psychometrically depressed and nondepressed subjects, resulting in the 30-item Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-30). The ATQ-30 was cross-validated and found to significantly discriminate between depressed and nondepressed groups. No gender differences were found. Factor analysis indicated a four-factor solution, with a large first factor reflecting Personal Maladjustment, a second factor indicating Negative Self-Concept and Negative Expectations, and two lesser factors. The ATQ-30 may provide a means of testing cognitive theory and assessing cognitive change associated with experimental manipulation or psychotherapeutic intervention. Recent research has focused on the role of cognition in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of psychopathology. Beck argued that depression results from pervasive, systematically negative distortions in cognitive content and process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to reduce depression by altering negative beliefs. Outcome studies have shown that cognitive procedures are more effective than traditional or behavioral interventions and tricyclic pharmacotherapy. Despite interest in cognitive theory and cognitive-behavioral therapy, there has been little systematic effort to assess changes in cognitive content and process during treatment. The Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT) is one measure of irrational beliefs but has limitations in assessing specific affective states and the frequency of cognitions. The present study developed the ATQ-30 to identify covert self-statements reported by depressives, which may be useful in theory testing and as an independent measure of cognitive change.A 30-item questionnaire was developed to measure the frequency of automatic negative thoughts (negative self-statements) associated with depression. Undergraduates were asked to recall dysphoric experiences and report associated cognitions. One hundred representative cognitions were selected and administered to a second sample, along with the MMPI D scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Thirty items were identified that discriminated between psychometrically depressed and nondepressed subjects, resulting in the 30-item Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-30). The ATQ-30 was cross-validated and found to significantly discriminate between depressed and nondepressed groups. No gender differences were found. Factor analysis indicated a four-factor solution, with a large first factor reflecting Personal Maladjustment, a second factor indicating Negative Self-Concept and Negative Expectations, and two lesser factors. The ATQ-30 may provide a means of testing cognitive theory and assessing cognitive change associated with experimental manipulation or psychotherapeutic intervention. Recent research has focused on the role of cognition in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of psychopathology. Beck argued that depression results from pervasive, systematically negative distortions in cognitive content and process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to reduce depression by altering negative beliefs. Outcome studies have shown that cognitive procedures are more effective than traditional or behavioral interventions and tricyclic pharmacotherapy. Despite interest in cognitive theory and cognitive-behavioral therapy, there has been little systematic effort to assess changes in cognitive content and process during treatment. The Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT) is one measure of irrational beliefs but has limitations in assessing specific affective states and the frequency of cognitions. The present study developed the ATQ-30 to identify covert self-statements reported by depressives, which may be useful in theory testing and as an independent measure of cognitive change.