Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Meta-cognitive profiles in anxiety disorders.
1University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Department of Psychology, Iran. usha.barahmand@gmail.com
Psychiatry Research
|September 8, 2009
Summary
This study reveals that specific metacognitive beliefs predict generalized anxiety (GAD), depression (DD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These findings support the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model in understanding anxiety disorders.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Metacognition plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of various psychological disorders.
- Understanding specific metacognitive beliefs associated with different anxiety disorders is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between metacognitions and anxiety disorders.
- To identify unique metacognitive predictors for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression (DD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 180 cases using the Meta-cognitions Questionnaire (MCQ), Anxious Thoughts Inventory (AnTI), and Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ).
- Multivariate and discriminant analyses were employed to identify predictors and differentiate between diagnostic groups.
Main Results:
- Negative metacognitive beliefs were significantly correlated, with cognitive self-consciousness being an exception.
- Clinical groups differed from controls in beliefs about uncontrollability, danger, cognitive competence, and general negative beliefs.
- GAD patients showed elevated health worry, OCD patients exhibited meta-worry, and distinct coping strategies (worry vs. distraction) were observed.
Conclusions:
- Metacognitive beliefs serve as significant predictors for GAD, DD, and OCD.
- Findings support the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model in explaining the role of metacognition in anxiety disorders.
- Specific metacognitive profiles differentiate between GAD, DD, and OCD patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be interpreted as...
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
01:27Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...