The Relationship of Metacognition and Perfectionism with Psychological Consequences in the Addicts

Metacognition and perfectionism may have particular relevance in cognitive consequences of substance use. Substance use is an effective means of rapidly modifying cognitive events such as feelings, thoughts, or memories. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship of metacognition and positive or negative perfectionism with psychological consequences in the substance dependent patients.

This was a retrospective correlation study. The sample consisted of 75 substance dependent men selected from the Hamedan city self-representative center for treatment of substance dependence. Wales’ Metacognition Questionniare (short form), Terry & Short Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale and Addiction Psychological Consequences Checklist were administered to them. 

Metacognition(r=0.65), positive perfectionism(r=-0.29) and negative perfectionism(r=0.66), were all in significant correlation with psychological consequences. Multiple regression analysis also revealed s that metacognition, negative perfectionism and positive perfectionism could explain at least 54 percent of the variance of psychological consequences. 

High levels of metacognition and negative perfectionism can increase the adverse psychological consequences, while a high level of positive perfectionism may decrease those consequences. The results are fairly in keeping with findings of other studies.