Turkish adaptation study of the Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated in psychotic disorders

Metacognition refers to the ability to recognize one's own and others' feelings and thoughts and to utilize this information to develop and understanding of oneself and others. Given that metacognitive deficits are considered a key treatment target in schizophrenia spectrum disorder, the availability of reliable tools to measure these skills is essential. As an interviewer-rated scale, the Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated (MAS-A) offers advantages over self-report scales in assessing metacognitive capacity. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of MAS-A for clinical assessment of metacognitve skills.

MAS-A was administered to 70 psychotic patients. Interrater reliability and compliance were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. A two-way mixed model was employed for intraclass correlation coefficients analyses. Participants were also administered: Metacognitions Questionnare-30, Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, Facial Emotion Identification and Discrimination Tests for convergent validity analysis; Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for assessing psychopathology; Global Assessment of Functioning Scale for assessing functionality. These scales, along with the related subscales of MAS-A, were examined through correlation and hierarchical regression analyses.

Intraclass correlation coefficients for MAS-A total and subscale scores ranged between 0.877 to 0.968 (p < 0.001 for each). The Metacognitions Questionnare-30, cognitive insight scale, social cognition scales, symptomatology assessments, and functionality scale are associated with MAS-A, though the strength of these relationships is relatively low.

The Turkish form of MAS-A has been found to be valid and reliable for patients with psychotic disorders.