La présente étude, élabore une version combinée de 8 items du questionnaire de pensées automatiques négatives (ATQ-8) et 10 items positifs de l’ATQ-révisé chez les étudiants.

Une étude transversale a été menée auprès de 473 étudiants de l’université de Caen Normandie.

L’ATQ-18-Fr a une très bonne validité de structure interne : une analyse factorielle exploratoire et confirmatoire ont permis de révéler une structure à 3 facteurs pour l’ATQ français : pensée négative, pensée positive (émotionnelle) et pensée positive (cognitive). Il présente également une consistance interne très satisfaisante (>0,80). L’ATQ-18-Fr a une très bonne validité de structure externe (validité de construit : validité convergente et divergente (p<0,001), discriminante (p<0,001) et concomitante (p<0,001)). Les coefficients de fidélité de l’ATQ-18-Fr pair-impair et par moitiés sont supérieurs à 0,80 (p<0,001).

Cette étude est la première recherche qui confirme la validité interne, externe et factorielle de l’ATQ-18-Fr et atteste de sa pertinence en langue française. La validation de l’outil (ATQ-18-Fr) présente plusieurs implications cliniques importantes : disposer des instruments de recherche valide en langue française ; pouvoir mesurer et évaluer deux modes de pensée (négative et positive) et étudier leur rôle dans le déclenchement, le maintien et le traitement de la dépression.

Automatic thoughts are explored in several theories dealing with psychopathology. Depression is characterized by the presence of negative thoughts about oneself, the world and the future, which are called the cognitive triad. Negative automatic thoughts have been found to play a pivotal role in psychopathological states such as depression and anxiety. Conversely, positive automatic thoughts have been found to be negatively related to psychopathological states including depression, anxiety and stress. The examination of both negative and positive cognitions could contribute to a better understanding of the health-pathology relationship.

A reliable and valid measurement of automatic thoughts would also advance research on psychological therapies, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). With this assessment tool validated in French, researchers will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of CBT and explore the relationship between cognitive changes and mental health in French populations. The present study validated the combined version of the 8-item Automatic Thought Questionnaire (ATQ) and 10 positive items from the ATQ-revised among French university students.

A cross sectional study was conducted on 473 students of the University of Caen Normandy. Participants were asked to complete five questionnaires anonymously: Automatic Thought Questionnaire (ATQ-8), Automatic Thought Questionnaire- revised (ATQ-10), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).

With 30 items each, these two questionnaires (ATQ and P-ATQ) are not quick to administer, and subjects do not always take the time to answer 60 questions in good conditions. We therefore feel it is necessary to create a tool for rapid evaluation of positive and negative thoughts in the form of a short evaluation scale (18 items), which will be widely used for its simplicity of execution. Netemeyer et al., [18Chioqueta A.P., Stiles T.C. Dimensions of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-A) and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-30) as cognitive vulnerability factors in the development of suicide ideation Behav Cogn Psychother 2007 ;  35 (5) : 579-589

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références], shortened the ATQ version from 30 to 8 items without modifying the 10 positive items. The validation of the ATQ, including the automatic positive thinking items, will fill existing gaps in Francophone communities.

Our study used Cronbach's alpha coefficient, split-half reliability, construct validity and exploratory factor analysis. Level of significance is P≤0.05.

ATQ-18-Fr has a very good validity of internal structure: an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the expected structure of the ATQ-18-Fr and revealed a 3-correlated-factor solution for the French ATQ: negative thought, positive thought (emotional) and positive thought (cognitive). It presents a very satisfactory internal consistency (>0.80). ATQ-18-Fr has a very good validity of external structure (construct validity: convergent and divergent validity; P<0.001) and discriminant (P<0.001), and concurrent validity (P<0.001)). The reliability coefficients ATQ-18 Fr even-odd and split-half are greater than 0.80 (P<0.001). The negative ATQ score was positively correlated with depression, anxiety and stress, and negatively correlated with self-esteem. The positive ATQ scores were negatively correlated with depression, anxiety and stress, and positively correlated with self-esteem. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, split-half reliability, construct validity and exploratory factor analysis showed that the 18-item ATQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring automatic thoughts.

The 18-item ATQ is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring automatic thoughts in the French context. This study is the first research that confirms the internal, external and factorial validity of this questionnaire and attests to its relevance in a French context. The validation of a tool (Automatic Thought Questionnaire-18 item-French “ATQ-18-Fr”) has many important clinical implications: to submit a valid research instrument in the French population; to evaluate two styles of thinking, negative and positive, and to study their role in initiating, maintaining and treating depression, anxiety and stress in patients.