Role of Meta-cognitive Beliefs and Emotional Schemes in Predicting the Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in People Referring to Legal Medicine

Some studies have addressed the role of meta-cognitive beliefs and emotional schemes in the persistence of symptoms of post traumatic stress disorders. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the role of meta-cognitive beliefs and emotional schemes in predicting the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder in people referred to the legal medicine of Khorramabad City.

The present study was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of this study consisted of all individuals with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder referring to the forensic medicine organization in Khorramabad City in 2017-2018. Among them, 200 individuals were selected as the statistical sample by available sampling method. The participants completed the PTSD Symptom Scale - Self report (PSS-SR, Foa et al, 1993), Meta-cognitive Beliefs Questionnaires (Wells and Carthage-Hatton, 2004), and Leahy Emotional Schema Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using step by step regression analysis.

Results revealed that there was a positive and significant correlation between the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder with meta-cognitive beliefs and emotional schemes (exept consensus and rumination) (p<0.05). In addition, multiple regression analysis showed that positive metacognitive beliefs (β= 0.500, p= 0.001), cognitive self-awareness (β= -1.090, p= 0.001), uncontrollability (β= -4.162, p= 0.001) and expression of feeling (β= -1.572, p= 0.001) might predict the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

With regard to the results of the current study attention should be directed to the relationship between symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and meta-cognitive beliefs. Moreover, therapeutic interventions should be targeted at improving negative metacognitive beliefs and emotional schemes in patients.