Psychiatria pre prax 2/2012

Metacognitive training in schizophrenia

Metacognitive training in schizophrenia (MCT) is a group therapy programme for psychotic patients developed by Moritz and Woodward. Its aim is to help patients to become aware of the errors in thinking they commit and to reduce these errors. It is based on scientific studies showing that, in schizophrenia, certain types of cognitive processing deficits are characteristic; that patients are unaware of these deficits; and that this affects their emotions and their behaviour. MCT consists of eight modules, each focused on a certain type of cognitive bias. One module deals with depression and the methods of coping with it. Each module contains an educational part, practical exercises, and a concluding summary and recommendations. The programme includes a manual for the therapist, sheets for patients who can perform assigned tasks between sessions, and two first aid cards. Studies on the efficacy of the MCT programme have shown that this programme is very well accepted by patients and that it leads to reducing errors in thinking related to psychosis. This therapeutic programme has been translated into Czech and can be downloaded freely at www.uke.de/mkt.

Keywords: schizophrenia, cognitive processing deficits, psychotherapy, metacognitive training.