John Briere, PhD
Purpose: Assesses negative thinking patterns that interfere with optimal functioning
Age Range: 18 years to 91 years
Admin Time: 10–15 minutes; 5 minutes to score
Additional Details: Quickly Assess Your Clients for Five Types of Cognitive Distortion Including Low Self-Esteem
Qualification Level: B
The CDS is a 40-item self-assessment of cognitive distortions for adults ages 18 years and older.
Features and benefits
The CDS scales reflect five types of cognitive distortion:
- Self-Criticism (SC)—Low self-esteem and self-devaluation as expressed in the tendency to criticise or devalue oneself.
- Self-Blame (SB)—Extent to which the respondent blames himself or herself for negative, unwanted events in his or her life, including events outside the respondent's control.
- Helplessness (HLP)—Perception of being unable to control important aspects of one's life.
- Hopelessness (HOP)—Extent to which the respondent believes that the future is bleak and that he or she is destined to fail
- Preoccupation With Danger (PWD)—Tendency to view the world, especially the interpersonal domain, as a dangerous place.
