In a CBT thought record, which element documents emotional intensity?

• A. Medication dosage
• B. Emotion intensity
• C. Past medical history
• D. Family history

Answer: (B)

In a CBT thought record, tracking emotional intensity is essential because it shows how strongly a trigger or automatic thought is affecting your feelings, linking what you think with how you feel. You typically rate the emotional intensity on a scale, which makes it possible to see patterns over time and to measure how effectively cognitive strategies reduce distress. This rating guides your next steps—when intensity is high, you know you may need to focus more on challenging the automatic thought or using coping skills before moving on. The other options don’t fit the CBT thought record context: medication dosage relates to pharmacotherapy, while past medical history and family history are background information not part of the cognitive-emotional tracking in the record.