Association Between Metacognition and Mood Symptoms Poststroke.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Neurology

Background:

• The link between metacognition and mood is established in various psychological conditions.
• Evidence for this association in stroke patients, particularly in the acute phase, is lacking.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing targeted interventions post-stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between metacognition and mood symptoms (anxiety and depression) in the acute phase following a stroke.
• To examine metacognition within the framework of the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model.
• To compare the predictive power of metacognition against executive function and global cognition on mood symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study in Bahrain involving 130 stroke patients, with 64 assessed for mood and cognition.
• Cognitive assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test (A+B), and Metacognition Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30).
• Mood symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and stroke severity was measured by the National Institute of Health Stroke Severity Scale.

Main Results:

• Total scores on the Metacognition Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30) showed significant associations with both anxiety (r = .47, P = .001) and depression (r = .54, P < .0001).
• Specific metacognitive factors like cognitive confidence, self-consciousness, and uncontrollability/danger were linked to mood symptoms (P < .01).
• Metacognition remained a significant correlate of depression (β = .42, P < .0001) and anxiety (β = .51, P < .0001) even after adjusting for education and global cognition.

Conclusions:

• Metacognition is a significant determinant of mood symptoms, including anxiety and depression, in the acute phase after stroke.
• Metacognition demonstrates a stronger association with mood symptoms post-stroke compared to executive function and global cognition.
• These findings are particularly relevant for older populations with high illiteracy rates, highlighting metacognition's importance in stroke recovery.