The cognitive model assumes that cognitions (thoughts and images) are responsible for emotions. Cognitions are automatic, habitual, and believable. Unfortunately, they are also prone to bias: misappraisals of events and situations underpin many common problems, including anxiety and depression. Thought records are tools used by cognitive behavioral therapists to help their patients capture, evaluate, and restructure their negative automatic thoughts. Recording and evaluating thoughts allows us to test the accuracy of our thinking, and oftentimes feel better by identifying and correcting bias or inaccuracies. One objective when using thought records in CBT is to encourage more balanced thinking. Thought records vary considerably and include: simple forms that assist patients to capture their negative automatic thoughts; thought challenging records that guide patients through the process of disputing their negative cognitions; and disorder-specific forms that encourage the capture of specific types of cognitive content. Psychology Tools has created a variety of thought records to suit the needs of a broad range of cognitive therapists.
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Self-monitoring records are a simple form of thought record. They are often used to gather information about thoughts in the context of a particular situation, as well as exploring any emotions elicited, and any coping responses (behaviors). Self-monitoring records enable a clinician to gather information relevant for a cross-sectional formulation.
Thought-challenging records, often just called thought records, are used to help people to evaluate their automatic thoughts or to dispute their negative thinking. Thought records exist in numerous different formats: popular methods involve training users to identify the presence of cognitive distortions, or to evaluate the evidence for and against a negative automatic thought.
Disorder-specific thought records are used to gather information relevant to a particular condition. For example, patients prone to worry might be encouraged to focus on the automatic predictions they make, and clients with health anxiety might be encouraged to focus on negative thoughts relating to their health.
Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: Guilford Press.