Evaluation of relationship between metacognition components and dysfunctional attitudes in outpatients with bipolar mood disorder II

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between metacognitive components and dysfunctional attitudes in outpatients with bipolar mood disorder II. Thirty-six young adult outpatients with current diagnoses of BMD II(20 females and 16 males) were recruited from Esfahan Counseling Center. Diagnoses were based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorder-Clinical Version(SCID-CV). A battery of questionnaires including Metacognition Questionnaire and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale(DAS) were self-assessed by patients before medical therapy. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the components of metacognition and its relationship with dysfunctional attitudes is positive and significant(r= 28/0, p<0/05). Multiple regression analysis showed that two of the metacognitive components emerged as potentially useful in prediction of dysfunctional attitudes(negative beliefs about uncontrollability, danger and thoughts control). Also, results indicated that those two components have a significant positive relationship with vulnerability, perfectionism and effectiveness)R²= 0/29, 0/35; p<0/05). Components of positive beliefs about worry and beliefs about cognitive self-consciousness related to cognitive confidence in predicting the criterion variable and its components showed no significant contribution. Study findings suggest that DSM-IV BMD II outpatients with metacognitive distortions have shown higher levels of dysfunctional attitudes.