Group Metacognitive Therapy vs. Mindfulness Meditation Therapy in a Transdiagnostic Patient Sample: A Randomised Feasibility Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the feasibility and effectiveness of group Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in treating anxiety and depression in a transdiagnostic sample.
Results Summary
MBSR was found to be feasible and acceptable, with low attrition, but MCT was more effective in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms and metacognitive beliefs at post-treatment and 6-month follow-up. Both treatments showed promise, but a larger trial is needed for definitive conclusions.
Population
Adults aged 19-56 with anxiety and depression (transdiagnostic sample).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (group sessions over eight weeks).
Duration
Eight weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) | decrease | anxiety and depression | participants (aged 19-56) | - | was more effective in treating | #1 |
Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) | decrease | positive and negative metacognitive beliefs | participants (aged 19-56) | - | reducing | #2 |
Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) | increase | reliable improvement rates | participants (aged 19-56) | - | favoured | #3 |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | decrease | anxiety and depression | participants (aged 19-56) | - | was more effective in treating | #4 |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | decrease | positive and negative metacognitive beliefs | participants (aged 19-56) | - | reducing | #5 |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | reliable improvement rates | participants (aged 19-56) | - | favoured | #6 |
Two transdiagnostic therapies for treating psychological disorder are Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). These two approaches have yet to be compared and therefore the current study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a study of group MCT and MBSR in treating anxiety and depression. A feasibility trial with 40 participants (aged 19-56) was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either eight weeks of group MCT or MBSR. The primary outcome was feasibility which included recruitment rates, retention and treatment acceptability. The primary symptom outcome was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) total score, which provided an overall measure of distress. Both treatments were found to be acceptable with low attrition and similar ratings of acceptability. Changes in outcomes were analyzed based on the intention-to-treat principle using mixed effect models. Preliminary analyses revealed that MCT was more effective in treating anxiety and depression in comparison to MBSR, and in reducing both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs. Reliable improvement rates favoured MCT at post-treatment and 6-month follow up. Both treatments appeared to be feasible and acceptable in treating transdiagnostic samples; however, a larger, definitive trial is required. The limitations and directions for future research are discussed.