Group metacognitive therapy for adolescents with anxiety and depressive disorders: A pilot study

Objective(s) The metacognitive model suggests that beliefs about cognition maintain repetitive negative thinking (RNT), a transdiagnostic process that underlies commonly comorbid, emotional disorders. To date, there has been the limited application of metacognitive therapy (MCT) to adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate a six-session group transdiagnostic MCT program for adolescents with anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Method Participants (N = 10; 3 male, 7 female; average age 15.2 years) completed measures of metacognition and RNT at assessment, baseline period, during treatment, and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. Results Nine participants attended all six treatment sessions and one discontinued after four sessions. At posttreatment and follow-ups, the majority of participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depressive disorders and evidenced a clinically significant or reliable change in metacognitions and RNT. Conclusions Results suggest that group MCT is promising in terms of acceptability and effectiveness for adolescents with anxiety and/or depressive disorders.