Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (DBAS-16)

This questionnaire explores your thoughts and beliefs about sleep. There are no right or wrong answers - we're interested in your personal views.

0 of 16 questions answered

Please indicate how much you personally agree or disagree with each statement by moving the slider. The scale ranges from 0 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree).

0Strongly Disagree
5Neutral
10Strongly Agree
1. I need 8 hours of sleep to feel refreshed and function well during the day.
DisagreeAgree
5
2. When I don't get the proper amount of sleep on a given night, I need to catch up on the next day by napping or on the next night by sleeping longer.
DisagreeAgree
5
3. I am concerned that chronic insomnia may have serious consequences on my physical health.
DisagreeAgree
5
4. I am worried that I may lose control over my abilities to sleep.
DisagreeAgree
5
5. After a poor night's sleep, I know that it will interfere with my daily activities on the next day.
DisagreeAgree
5
6. In order to be alert and function well during the day, I believe I would be better off taking a sleeping pill rather than having a poor night's sleep.
DisagreeAgree
5
7. When I feel irritable, depressed, or anxious during the day, it is mostly because I did not sleep well the night before.
DisagreeAgree
5
8. When I sleep poorly on one night, I know it will disturb my sleep schedule for the whole week.
DisagreeAgree
5
9. Without an adequate night's sleep, I can hardly function the next day.
DisagreeAgree
5
10. I can't ever predict whether I'll have a good or poor night's sleep.
DisagreeAgree
5
11. I have little ability to manage the negative consequences of disturbed sleep.
DisagreeAgree
5
12. When I feel tired, have no energy, or just seem not to function well during the day, it is generally because I did not sleep well the night before.
DisagreeAgree
5
13. I believe insomnia is essentially the result of a chemical imbalance.
DisagreeAgree
5
14. I feel insomnia is ruining my ability to enjoy life and prevents me from doing what I want.
DisagreeAgree
5
15. Medication is probably the only solution to sleeplessness.
DisagreeAgree
5
16. I avoid or cancel obligations (social, family) after a poor night's sleep.
DisagreeAgree
5

Your DBAS-16 Results

0/10
Average Score (higher = more dysfunctional beliefs)
Healthy beliefs Some concerns Dysfunctional beliefs

Interpretation

Belief Themes

Consequences of Insomnia 0/10
Worry About Sleep 0/10
Sleep Expectations 0/10
Control & Predictability 0/10
Medication Beliefs 0/10

About the DBAS-16

The Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep scale was developed by Charles Morin and colleagues to identify unhelpful thoughts about sleep that can perpetuate insomnia.

Research shows that people with insomnia often hold rigid beliefs about sleep (like needing exactly 8 hours) and catastrophic thoughts about the consequences of poor sleep. These beliefs increase anxiety around sleep, which paradoxically makes sleeping harder.

The DBAS-16 is used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) to identify beliefs that can be challenged and modified. Changing these beliefs is often a key component of successful insomnia treatment.

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