Examination of metacognitive functions in a group of patients with major depressive disorder

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders influencing the society. For this reason, it is important to identify and work on the factors that have an impact on the emergence of depression. The aim of the present study was to evaluate metacognitive functions of patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) diagnosis via comparing themto control group. The study included 60 patients with the age range 18-49 who applied to the Psychiatric Policlinic of SBÜ Şişli hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital and 30 healthy control age and sex matched with non-psyciatric and neurological disorders. The patients and healthy control group were interviewed before the study and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) was applied and participants providing appropriate conditions were included in the study. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale and Metacognitions Questionnaire – 30 (MCQ-30) were used as data collection tool. In this study, metacognition total scores of depression patients were significantly higher than those of healthy control group. Uncontrollability and danger, the need to control thoughts, cognitive confidence and cognitive awareness subscales of metacognition were found to be higher in depression patients compared to healthy control group. There was significant positive correlation between BDI that used to determine the level of depression in MDD patients and MCQ total score, positive belief, uncontrollability and danger, cognitive confidence subscales. As a result of this study, higher metacognition scores in patients with MDD indicate the necessity of working with metacognition system in these patients. Working on the metacognition system, which includes beliefs about people's cognitive processes, affects the monitoring, evaluation and transformation of these cognitive processes is important for understanding the disease process.