The Effectiveness of Meta-Cognitive Therapy on Cognitive Attention Syndrome in Female Students with Social Anxiety Disorder

The aim of this study assessment the effectiveness of meta-cognitive therapy on cognitive attention syndrome in female students with social anxiety disorder. The statistical population of this study was all female students with social anxiety disorder at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences 2018-19. The method of this research was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with the control group design. The research sample consisted of 30 individuals that were randomly assigned into two groups of 15 experimental and control groups. The tools used were the Social Anxiety (Connor et al., 2000), Back Depression-II (Beck et al., 1996) and Cognitive Attention Syndrome (Wells et al., 2009) questionnaires. The experimentation group was for 8 sessions, an hour, as a group, underwent meta-cognitive therapy intervention but the control group receive no any intervention. The crude data analysis using SPSS-21 software and descriptive and inferential tests, Univariate covariance analysis were performed. The findings showed that in the experimental group, a significant decrease in cognitive/ attention syndrome was observed after the intervention (P<0.001). These results were maintained during the follow-up stage (P<0.01). According to the results obtained, and the continuation of its effect, the use of meta-cognitive therapy is recommended to reduce the rate of cognitive / attention syndrome in patients with social anxiety disorder.Results showed in the experimental group a significant decrease in cognitive / attentional syndrome after intervention (P <0.001). These results were also maintained at follow-up (P <0.01). Based on the results, and the continuing effect, the use of meta-cognitive therapy to reduce the rate of cognitive / attention syndrome in patients with social anxiety disorder is recommended.