The role of Meta-cognitive beliefs on substance dependency

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the role of meta-cognitions in substance dependency disorder. The sample of 70 treatment-seeking substance abusers and 70 individuals from the general population participated in this research and they were compared on the following measure: Meta-cognitions Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30). Multiple analysis of variance(MANOVA),and discriminant analysis were performed on the data. MANOVA revealed that all of five meta-cognitive beliefs were significantly different and higher for substance dependents sample than for the general population. The discriminant analysis indicates that three meta-cognitive factors include “negative beliefs about thoughts concerning uncontrollability and danger”, “beliefs about the need to control thoughts “and” cognitive self-consciousness” were independent predictors for substance dependency disorder. These results provide more supportive evidence for S-REF theory in which substance dependency supported by disruptions of meta-cognitive monitoring and control,and also this study and its results recommend that psychotherapists and specialists In the therapy and reduction of substance dependence consider and challenge meta-cognitive beliefs