Distinguishing the Dimensions of  the original Dysfunctional Attitude Scale in an Archival Clinical Sample

Abstract The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS; Weissman, 1979) measures depression related enduring beliefs and is one of the core measures of cognitive behavioral (CBT) research and theory. It has been the central marker of etiological claims of CBT, and so any change to the understanding of the composition of the DAS would have potentially far-reaching implications for a large body of literature. We sought to capitalize on advances in psychometric techniques since the original 100-item DAS was last analyzed in a sufficiently large clinical sample by Beck et al. (1991) to provide a definitive measurement model of this important instrument. Beyond the two dimensions usually found on the shorter forms of the scale, we identified the following subscales: Imperatives, Cognitive Flexibility, and Negative Expectancy. Initial validity analyses were carried out within the context of an updated CBT theoretical framework informed by the extensive body of research using the DAS over the decades, highlighting the potential for the new subscales to unlock the solution to perennial contradictory findings using the DAS. The richer and more precise DAS structure renews its potential to meet the challenge of predicting who is prone to develop depression or experience a recurrence.