Group Metacognitive Therapy vs. Mindfulness Meditation Therapy in a Transdiagnostic Patient Sample: A Randomised Feasibility Trial.
Lora Capobianco, David Reeves, Anthony P Morrison, Adrian Wells
Psychiatry Research January 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.11.045 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Feasibility randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Adults aged 19-56 with anxiety and depression |
| Interventions | Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | Eight weeks of treatment, with 6-month follow-up |
| Measures | Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) total score |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Feasibility Metacognitive therapy |
| Key findings | Preliminary analyses suggested group Metacognitive Therapy was more effective than group Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in reducing anxiety and depression and in reducing positive and negative metacognitive beliefs, with reliable improvement rates favoring MCT at post-treatment and six-month follow-up. Both treatments appeared feasible and acceptable, but the authors state a larger, definitive trial is required. |
Abstract
Two transdiagnostic therapies for treating psychological disorder are Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). These two approaches have yet to be compared and therefore the current study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a study of group MCT and MBSR in treating anxiety and depression. A feasibility trial with 40 participants (aged 19-56) was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either eight weeks of group MCT or MBSR. The primary outcome was feasibility which included recruitment rates, retention and treatment acceptability. The primary symptom outcome was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) total score, which provided an overall measure of distress. Both treatments were found to be acceptable with low attrition and similar ratings of acceptability. Changes in outcomes were analyzed based on the intention-to-treat principle using mixed effect models. Preliminary analyses revealed that MCT was more effective in treating anxiety and depression in comparison to MBSR, and in reducing both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs. Reliable improvement rates favoured MCT at post-treatment and 6-month follow up. Both treatments appeared to be feasible and acceptable in treating transdiagnostic samples; however, a larger, definitive trial is required. The limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The role of non-ordinary states of consciousness occasioned by mind-body practices in mental health illness. Journal of Affective Disorders August 15, 2023
- Mechanics of Mindfulness: Investigating Metacognitive Beliefs as a Pathway of Effect on Anxiety and Depression. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education June 12, 2025
- The Role of Mindfulness in Treating Addictive Disorders and Rehabilitation International Journal of Psychology & Behavior Analysis November 21, 2018
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms in Chinese adolescent girls: a mixed-methods school-based study of parent and teacher perceptions. BMC Psychology October 14, 2025
- An empirical investigation of the associations between metacognition, mindfulness experiential avoidance, depression, and anxiety BMC Psychology September 21, 2023
Cites 8
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Professionals: Results From a Randomized Trial. International Journal of Stress Management May 1, 2005
- Beyond the individual: Group effects in mindfulness-based stress reduction Psychotherapy Research September 12, 2008
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for patients with anxiety disorders: evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy January 27, 2011
and 3 more in the library