The Effect of Metacognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Depression and Generalized Anxiety in Individuals with the Cognitive-Attentional Syndrome (CAS)
Keywords:
Metacognitive Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Depression and Generalized Anxiety, Cognitive-Attentional SyndromeAbstract
Objective: The present study investigated the effect of metacognitive therapy (MCT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on depression and generalized anxiety in individuals diagnosed with the Cognitive-Attentional Syndrome (CAS) in Tehran during 2023–2024.
Methods and Materials: This research employed an experimental design using a pretest–posttest structure with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all individuals who visited counseling centers affiliated with the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality and were screened with a diagnosis of CAS symptoms. Participants were selected using a random sampling method. A total of 45 individuals were chosen from the target population. Most participants were women. Initially, all three groups completed questionnaires on depression and generalized anxiety during the pretest phase. Following the completion of the pretest, two experimental groups underwent eight training sessions—one group received metacognitive therapy and the other received cognitive behavioral therapy. The control group did not receive any training. These interventions were specifically administered to individuals with CAS who were experiencing depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms. At the end of the intervention period, the effectiveness and impact of each treatment method were assessed via analysis of variance method.
Findings: Statistical analysis of the data showed that both therapeutic approaches had a significant effect on reducing depression and generalized anxiety. However, the hypothesis that metacognitive therapy would be superior to cognitive behavioral therapy was not supported.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that both therapeutic approaches can play a significant role in designing treatment programs in counseling and mental health centers, enhancing the quality of therapeutic services, and increasing the effectiveness of short-term treatment protocols.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Hamidreza Ansari Sadrabadi (Author); Mohsen Razani; Hassan Piriaie, Sara Saedi (Author)
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