Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire with a Clinically Depressed Adolescent Sample

Abstract

The factor structure and psychometric properties of the Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire (CNCEQ) were examined with 427 adolescents ages 12 to 18 (193 boys) with current major depressive disorder. Results of confirmatory factor analysis supported a four-factor model comprised of three content area factors (i.e., social, academic, athletic) and a general factor. Internal consistencies ranged between .84 and .94 for the total and three content area scores. Girls scored significantly higher than boys on all factors, but no age differences on the factors were found. Convergent and discriminant validity of the CNCEQ were supported. Results did not support the original subscales organized by type of cognitive distortion (e.g., catastrophizing, overgeneralizing). Findings indicated that the CNCEQ would be a useful clinical tool for assessing cognitive symptoms within relevant domains of functioning (e.g., social, academic) of depressed youth.

We acknowledge the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) Team. The Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) is coordinated by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Duke Clinical Research Institute at Duke University Medical Center in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Rockville, Maryland. The Coordinating Center principal collaborators are John March, Susan Silva, Stephen Petrycki, John Curry, Karen Wells, John Fairbank, Barbara Burns, Marisa Domino, and Steven McNulty. The NIMH principal collaborators are Benedetto Vitiello and Joanne Severe. Principal Investigators and Co-investigators from the clinical sites are as follows: Carolinas Medical Center: Charles Casat, Jeanette Kolker, Karyn Riedal, Marguerita Goldman; Case Western Reserve University: Norah Feeny, Robert Findling, Sheridan Stull, Felipe Amunategui; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Elizabeth Weller, Michele Robins, Ronald Weller, Naushad Jessani; Columbia University: Bruce Waslick, Michael Sweeney, Rachel Kandel, Dena Schoenholz; Johns Hopkins University: John Walkup, Golda Ginsburg, Elizabeth Kastelic, Hyung Koo; University of Nebraska: Christopher Kratochvil, Diane May, Randy LaGrone, Martin Harrington; New York University: Anne Marie Albano, Glenn Hirsch, Tracey Knibbs, Emlyn Capili; Northwestern University: Mark Reinecke, Bennett Leventhal, Catherine Nageotte, Gregory Rogers; University of Cincinnati: Sanjeev Pathak, Jennifer Wells, Sarah Arszman, Arman Danielyan Sanjeev; University of Oregon: Anne Simons, Paul Rohde, James Grimm, Lananh Nguyen; University of Texas Southwestern: Graham Emslie, Beth Kennard, Carroll Hughes, Maryse Ruberu; Wayne State University: David Rosenberg, Nili Benazon, Michael Butkus, Marla Bartoi. Greg Clarke (Kaiser Permanente) and David Brent (University of Pittsburgh) are consultants; James Rochon (Duke University Medical Center) is statistical consultant.

Julie Newman Kingery is now with Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Hayden O. Kepley is now with University of North Carolina Wilmington.

TADS was supported by contract N01 MH80008 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Duke University Medical Center (John S. March, Principal Investigator).

Notes

Note: BHS = Beck Hopelessness Scale; CASS–L = Conners–Wells' Adolescent Self-Report Scale–Long; CDRS–R = Children's Depression Rating Scale–Revised; CPRS-L = Conners' Parent Rating Scale–Long; CTI–C = Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children; DAS = Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale; MASC = Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children; RADS = Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale.

Note: N = 427. CNCEQ = Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire.

Note: N = 427. CNCEQ = Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire.

^a n = 193.

^b n = 234.

∗p < .05.

Note: CNCEQ = Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire; BHS = Beck Hopelessness Scale; DAS = Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale; RADS = Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale; CTI–C = Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children; CDRS–R = Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised; MASC = Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children; CPRS–L = Conners' Parent Rating Scale–Long; CASS–L = Conners-Wells' Adolescent Self-Report Scale–Long.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01.