Exploring metacognitive beliefs within the frame of stress and coping in psychiatric patients with depression and anxiety symptoms

The current study examined relationships between metacognitive beliefs, anxiety and depressive symptoms both utilizing cross-sectional and prospective study design in a clinical sample. It is aimed at investigating whether metacognitive beliefs predict anxiety and depressive symptoms cross-sectionally after controlling for negative life events and coping with stress styles. Beside, examining whether anxiety and depressive symptoms are predicted by metacognitive beliefs and vice versa prospectively is aimed for investigating reciprocal relationships. In line with this purpose participants who applied Aydın Adnan Menderes University Polyclinic of Psychiatry suffered from anxiety and depressive symptoms were recruited to the study. Demographic Form, Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire-30, Positive Beliefs About Rumination Scale, Negative Beliefs About Rumination Scale, Life Events Scale and Coping Style Scale were administered to the participants. 183 participants completed the scales at the initial assessment and 71 participants return for the follow-up assessment three months later. The results revealed that negative beliefs of uncontrollability and danger and cognitive confidence cross-sectionally predict anxiety symptoms, on the other hand negative life events and coping strategies do not predict anxiety symptoms. Depressive symptoms was regressed on only negative beliefs about interpersonal and social consequnces of rumination cross-sectionally. In addition, negative life events and coping with stress styles also predicted depressive symptoms. Furthermore, relationship between negative beliefs about interpersonal and social consequnces of rumination and depressive symptoms mediated by coping with stress styles. The results of prospective analysis showed that low cognitive confidence emerge as the only metacognitive factor explaining long-term anxiety and depressive symptoms independently after controlling for baseline symptom levels. Finally, results discussed in line with previous studies; limitations and clinical implications of current study and suggestions for the future studies were indicated.