Metacognitive Therapy for Depression: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study Assessing Recovery, Relapse, Work Force Participation, and Quality of Life

Abstract

A major challenge in the treatment of depression has been high relapse rates following treatment. The current study reports results from a 3-year follow-up of patients treated with metacognitive therapy (MCT). Thirty-four of the 39 patients enrolled in the original study attended assessment (participation rate of 87%). There were large reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, interpersonal problems, and worry, as well as metacognitive beliefs. Three patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria for axis-I disorders: one with depression and two with generalized anxiety disorder. Sixty percent had not experienced any new depressive episodes in the 3-year follow-up period, and the static relapse rates were low (11-15%). Recovery rates ranged from 69 to 97% depending upon the four different criteria used. Nevertheless, 26% had sought out treatment for depression or other psychological difficulties. Most patients (70%) had experienced negative life events in the follow-up period, but these events did not influence current depression severity. Return to work outcomes were encouraging, as eight out of 13 patients that had been on benefits were no longer receiving benefits. Life satisfaction ratings showed mean scores around 70 (on a 0-100 scale) and showed a moderate to strong negative correlation with depression severity. In conclusion, MCT appears to be promising with respect to longterm effect. Randomized controlled trials should investigate if the long-term effect of MCT surpasses that of other evidence-based treatments for depression.

Feasibility and outcome of metacognitive therapy for major depressive disorder: a pilot study

“…Our results are in accordance with others demonstrating the clinical efficacy of MCT [ 2 , 6 , 16 , 22 ]. A recent meta-analysis integrating data of 15 trials demonstrated large effect sizes of MCT against waitlist condition (Hedges’ g = 2.06), and even superior pooled effect sizes compared to cognitive and behavioral interventions at post-treatment and at follow-up (Hedges’ g 0.69 and 0.37 respectively) [ 11 ].…”

Feasibility and Outcome of Metacognitive Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A pilot study

“…Our results are in accordance with others demonstrating the clinical e cacy of MCT (Dammen et al, 2016;Hjemdal et al, 2019;Solem et al, 2019;Wells et al, 2012). A recent meta-analysis integrating data of 15 trials demonstrated large effect sizes of MCT against waitlist condition (Hedges' g = 2.06), and even superior pooled effect sizes compared to cognitive and behavioral interventions at post-treatment and at follow-up (Hedges' g 0.69 and 0.37 respectively) (Normann and Morina, 2018).…”

The Function of Casual Sex Action and Inaction Regret: A Longitudinal Investigation

“…Finally, many mental and emotional responses exist despite not being functional. For example, rumination probably does not solve problems (Kennair et al, 2017), while discontinuing rumination seems to actually increase adaptive behavior as measured by increased quality of life and improved workforce participation or study activity 3 years after treatment (Solem et al, 2019). Panic disorder exists, but in different countries how patients misinterpret, in a positive feedback loop, bodily sensations of anxiety such that in some Arabic countries they will perceive a Djinn sitting on their chest while in Western countries people may fear a heart attack.…”