The objective of this study was to adapt and investigate the psychometric properties of the Childrens Automatic Thoughts Scale (CATS). The sample was composed by 326 children and adolescents, 135 boys (41.40%) and 189 girls (58.00%). Ages ranged between 9 and 16 years old (Mean=12.34, SD=1.48 years). The respondents answered the CATS and the Child Depression Inventory. The results indicated a factorial structure with four factors for the CATS similar to the original scale, as well as satisfactory internal consistency. Significant correlations were found between the intensity of the automatic dysfunctional thoughts and the depression symptoms. The factor personal failure was a significant predictor of depression intensity. Initial results suggest that the CATS is a promising tool to be adopted in Brazil for assessing children's and adolescents' automatic thoughts.
Cognitive therapy; Scales; Depression; Children; Adolescents
