A qualitative report on metacognitive training (MCT) for people with schizophrenia

Objective

Metacognitive training (MCT) for psychosis is a psychological intervention that blends cognitive behavioural therapy and psychoeducation. Several published systematic reviews and meta-analyses have provided robust evidence of its efficacy. However, patients' opinions regarding the intervention or their own perception of the changes achieved have been overlooked. This study synthesises the first-person reports of people with schizophrenia who completed MCT at the Hospital Del Salvador de Valparaiso.

Methods

This study employed a qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who completed MCT. The interviews were reliably transcribed, and a content analysis was performed.

Results

All the participants interviewed were positive about MCT, highlighting improvements in various aspects and emphasising factors that contributed to the changes achieved. Four main themes emerged from the analysis: Sowing the seeds of doubt; Significant changes in MCT attendees; Community formation; and What the MCT needs to improve.

Conclusions

The results provide an in-depth report on MCT from the users' perspective and allow reflection on new outcomes to be studied in the future, with quantitative and qualitative methods.