We report the development and a preliminary analysis of the Evaluative Beli
efs Scale (EBS). The EBS measures negative person evaluations, a key class
of beliefs within cognitive psychotherapy and thought to be closely linked
to emotional disturbance. Three hundred ninety-four members of a UK-based s
elf-help group called Depressives Anonymous completed the EBS and the Hospi
tal Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The EBS was found to have good int
ernal reliability, a clear factor structure and concurrent validity when co
mpared with the HADS. We believe the EBS might have utility for clinical re
search and practice, not only as an assessment and outcome measure but also
for testing hypotheses about connections between cognitions and emotions.