Comparison of Citalopram and Metacognitive Therapy on Depression in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and devastating psychiatric disorder worldwide that needs multidimensional interventions. Metacognitive treatment is a new psychotherapeutic approach of some psychiatric disorders. This study was conducted to comparatively evaluate the impact of citalopram and metacognitive interventions on major depressive disorder.
This was a clinical trial study with a pretest/posttest design. After selection of objects, the eligible patients were randomly assigned into three groups of citalopram (n = 12), metacognitive intervention (n = 16), and waiting list (n = 8). One experimental group received ten 1-houre sessions of metacognitive therapy; 10-40 mg citalopram was administered to other group; and third group did not receive any interventions and placed on waiting list. Outcome measures were done using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ30), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) before and after interventions. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA and post hoc tests.
Findings: There was significant difference between the groups in terms of symptom of depression, metacognition, and emotion regulation before and after intervention. In term of metacognition, only metacognitive therapy was useful (P = 0.010). Symptom of depression were improved significantly with metacognitive therapy (P = 0.007); but in pharmacotherapy, despite clinical improvement, there was not any statistically significant improvement (P = 0.070). In addition, emotion regulation was improved with metacognitive therapy (P = 0.020).
Metacognitive therapy could be used in major depressive disorder. In addition, this intervention could lead to higher level of cognitive emotion regulation.