Metacognitive Therapy: Cognition Applied To Regulating Cognition
Open accessAbstract
The theory and principles of Metacognitive therapy (MCT) are described and data supporting its effects are summarized. MCT does not advocate challenging of negative automatic thoughts or traditional schemas. It proposes the existence of a universal maladaptive thinking style that causes disorder and focuses on helping patients regulate their cognition more adaptively. It aims to reduce worry and rumination and alter problematic patterns of attention and coping. In doing so it targets underlying metacognition that controls thinking and helps patients develop new ways of consciously experiencing inner events. Data from treatment studies suggest that individual MCT techniques and full treatment are highly effective. Further randomized trials are clearly warranted.
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A key aspect in metacognitive therapy is to help people experience detached mindfulness, a disengaged and objective form of awareness in response to thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.
“In consequence, a key aspect in metacognitive therapy is therefore to help people experience detached mindfulness, which is a disengaged and objective form of awareness in response to thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.”
From Mamma mia: A feasibility study of a web-based intervention to reduce the risk of postpartum depression and enhance subjective well-being (2013) · cites this paper as [17]
Metacognitive therapy has been proven effective in treating depression.
“Metacognitive therapy [17] is a recent development in understanding and treating mental health problems, which has been proven effective in treating depression [36].”
From Mamma mia: A feasibility study of a web-based intervention to reduce the risk of postpartum depression and enhance subjective well-being (2013) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Wells, A.
- Venue
- Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2008-11
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 651-658
- ISSN
- 1352-4658 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-1833
- OpenAlex
- W2119666966
- Cited by
- 129
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 5.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.scopus.com
- Licence
- Locations
- Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- metacognitive therapy, metacognition, worry, rumination, coping, treatment effectiveness, cognitive therapy
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