Efficacy of Metacognitive Training (MCT) in recent-onset of psychosis
Poster A60, Thursday, October 20, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Irene Birulés1, Raquel Sánchez2, Ana Barajas4, Spanish Metacognition Study Group3, Susana Ochoa1; 1Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, 2Fundació Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, 3Spanish Metacognition Study Group (SMSG): Acevedo A, Anglès J, Argany MA, Barajas A, Barrigon ML, Beltran M, Birules I, Bogas JL, Camprubi N, Carbonero M, Carmona Farrés C, Carrasco E, Casañas R, Cid J, Conesa E, Corripio I, Cortes P, Crosas JM, de Apraiz A, Delgado M, Dominguez L, Escartí MJ, Escudero A, Esteban Pinos I, Figueras M, Franco C, García C, Gil V, Giménez-Díaz D, Gonzalez-Casares R, González Higueras F, Gonzalez-Montoro MªL, González E, Grasa Bello E, Guasp A, Haro JM, Huerta-Ramos Mª E, Huertas P, Jimenez-Díaz A, Lalucat LL, LLacer B, López-Alcayada R, López-Carrilero R, Lorente E, Luengo A, Mantecón N, Mas-Expósito L, Montes M, Moritz S, Murgui E, Nuñez M, Ochoa S, Palomer E, Paniego E, Peláez T, Pérez V, Planell K, Planellas C, Pleguezuelo-Garrote P, Pousa E, Rabella M, Renovell M, Rubio R, Ruiz-Delgado I, San Emeterio M, Sánchez E, Sanjuán J, Sans B, Schilling L, Sió H, Teixidó M, Torres P, Usall J, Vila MA, Vila-Badia R, Villegas F, Villellas R, 4Department of Research, Centre d’Higiene Mental Les Corts, Barcelona, Spain
BACKGROUND: Adjunctive interventions to antipsychotic drugs are proved to be essential in the treatment of recent onset of psychosis. MTC is a group-training program addressed to reduce cognitive biases that are putatively involved in the formation and maintenance of psychotic symptoms. AIMS: To test the efficacy of Metacognitive Training (MCT) in terms of symptoms and metacognitive variables at the onset of first-episode psychosis. METHOD: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial was performed. A total of 126 patients with a psychotic disorder of less than 5 years of evolution were randomized to a MCT or a Psycho-educational intervention and received 8 weekly sessions. Patients were evaluated at baseline, post-treatment, and a follow-up after six month by a blinded evaluator. The battery test run included clinical scales as well as PANSS and cognitive biases and social cognition questionnaires. RESULTS: A repeated measures T-test showed a significant reduction only in the MCT Group on total BCIS and self-certainty subscale scores (p=.004). The interaction between pre-post and group was also significant (p=.045). Differences in General PANSS and Total PANSS were only significant between baseline and post-treatment in the MCT group (p=.008; p=.005). ToM, Personalizing Bias, and JTC improved more strongly in the MCT group (p<.001-.032). These results remained significant at the follow-up. CONCLUSION: MCT is proving to be an effective psychological intervention for people with a recent onset of psychosis in order to reduce psychotic symptoms, improve cognitive insight, attributional style and to reduce irrational beliefs.
Topic Area: First Episode Psychosis