The Effectiveness of Metacognitive Therapy on Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Flexibility in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Metacognitive Therapy on Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Abstract
Introduction:People with generalized anxiety disorder face numerous problems in managing their emotions and cognitions. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy on cognitive emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
Method: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in the psychotherapy clinic of the Neurology and Psychiatry Specialized Hospital in Sari (October to March, 2024). 32 people were selected and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The measurement tools included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, and Cognitive Flexibility questionnaires. The experimental group received eight 120-minute sessions of metacognitive therapy, and the control group received no intervention. Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of covariance and SPSS-27 software.
Results: The mean score of "positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies" (before intervention: 12.31 vs. after intervention: 21.43), negative emotion regulation strategies (before intervention: 14.87 vs. after intervention: 24.07), and cognitive flexibility (before intervention: 19.94 vs. after intervention: 75.31) was increased after intervention (p=0.000).
Conclusion: Metacognitive therapy led to improved cognitive emotion regulation and increased cognitive flexibility in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. It is recommended that all mental health professionals use metacognitive therapy in clinical practice to improve the mental health of these individuals.
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