Effect of 4-session Metacognitive Training in Chinese Adult Outpatients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Major Depressive Disorder

Effect of 4-session Metacognitive Training in Chinese Adult Outpatients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Major Depressive Disorder

Psychological studies have shown that individuals tend to attribute causes of positive and negative events differently. Specifically, individuals hold an internalising or externalising bias of attribution which, in the case of particular patient groups, was found to polarize to the extreme. Such extreme attributional styles have found to have a direct impact on emotions, leading to a waning course of psychiatric disorders. This project aims to further examine the theoretical links between attributions and emotions using a transdiagnostic approach, and the effect of a 4-session process-based intervention on attributional biases.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18-65 years
• Clinical diagnosis of non-organic psychosis or major depressive disorder
• Presentation of delusions/a moderate level of depression

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of psychotic depression or depression with psychotic features
• Primary diagnosis of substance misuse or learning disability
• Participation of any cognitive/reasoning training program