Metacognitive Functions in a Sample of Egyptian Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Objective:Metacognition has been considered an important factor in the development and maintenance of various psychiatric disorders, especially in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The aim of the current study was to explore the role of metacognition in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in an Egyptian sample. Methods: Forty patients with OCD and 46 age and gender matched controls were recruited. Participants were evaluated using The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), the Responsibility Attitude Scale (RAS), and the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30). Results: As hypothesized, the OCD group scored significantly higher than the control group in all dimensions in addition to the total score of the MCQ-30. Effect sizes were highest for cognitive confidence, risks, control, and total score. A strong positive correlation was found between dimensions of MCQ and YBOCS severity score. After controlling for responsibility score, only two correlation coefficients for two subscales of MCQ-30 scale became non-significant. Conclusions:Metacognition plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OCD as evidenced by elevated dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs in patients with OCD. Cognitive therapies based upon cognitive formulations of OCD according to these results will be valuable in treating OCD symptoms.