Propriedades psicométricas do CD-Quest-R9 em uma amostra de estudantes universitários do Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest) is an instrument that identifies logical errors or cognitive distortions. It is available only to adults and is used in Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy (TBCT). Objective: To validate a reduced version of CD-Quest in undergraduate students - the CD-Quest-R9 - and to test its psychometric properties. Method: Investigation was carried out with the participation of 1,124 university students. After evaluating content validity and analyzing the data, instrument was reduced to 9 items out of the initial 15. A psychometrist analyzed content and structure of the items. Finally, in order to investigate construct validity of CD-Quest-R9, instrument was compared to the original version of the complete scale, which measures frequency of distortions and magnitude that is attributed to them, and also it was compared to two scales: DASS-21 and WHO-5. Results: Overall internal consistency of CD-Quest-R9 was α = 0.70, while for frequency subscale it was α = 0.93 and for intensity subscale, α = 0.93. The results of exploratory factor analysis and concurrent validity indicated that items of CD-Quest-R9 present good psychometric properties and generated reliable scores. Conclusion: Psychometric properties of CD-Quest-R9 demonstrate its adequacy to measure cognitive distortions consistently in a population of university students.