Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Metacognitive Training (MCT) in a Sample of Patients With Recent Onset Psychosis: Study of the Impact on the Severity and Dimensions of Delusions, Self‐Esteem and Depression

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Main Authors: Esther Lorente‐Rovira, Ana Luengo, Maria Luisa Barrigón, Raquel Lopez Carrilero, Esther Pousa, Eva Grasa, Ana Barajas, Isabel Ruiz‐Delgado, Jordi Cid, Fermin Gonzalez‐Higueras, Alejandra Guasp, Blanca Llácer, Maria Jose Escartí, Juan Antonio Carbonell‐Asins, Steffen Moritz, Julio Sanjuán, Susana Ochoa
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Published: Wiley 2026
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author Esther Lorente‐Rovira
Ana Luengo
Maria Luisa Barrigón
Raquel Lopez Carrilero
Esther Pousa
Eva Grasa
Ana Barajas
Isabel Ruiz‐Delgado
Jordi Cid
Fermin Gonzalez‐Higueras
Alejandra Guasp
Blanca Llácer
Maria Jose Escartí
Juan Antonio Carbonell‐Asins
Steffen Moritz
Julio Sanjuán
Susana Ochoa
author_facet Esther Lorente‐Rovira
Ana Luengo
Maria Luisa Barrigón
Raquel Lopez Carrilero
Esther Pousa
Eva Grasa
Ana Barajas
Isabel Ruiz‐Delgado
Jordi Cid
Fermin Gonzalez‐Higueras
Alejandra Guasp
Blanca Llácer
Maria Jose Escartí
Juan Antonio Carbonell‐Asins
Steffen Moritz
Julio Sanjuán
Susana Ochoa
Esther Lorente‐Rovira
Ana Luengo
Maria Luisa Barrigón
Raquel Lopez Carrilero
Esther Pousa
Eva Grasa
Ana Barajas
Isabel Ruiz‐Delgado
Jordi Cid
Fermin Gonzalez‐Higueras
Alejandra Guasp
Blanca Llácer
Maria Jose Escartí
Juan Antonio Carbonell‐Asins
Steffen Moritz
Julio Sanjuán
Susana Ochoa
collection Wiley Open Access
contents Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Metacognitive Training (MCT) in a Sample of Patients With Recent Onset Psychosis: Study of the Impact on the Severity and Dimensions of Delusions, Self‐Esteem and Depression Esther Lorente‐Rovira Ana Luengo Maria Luisa Barrigón Raquel Lopez Carrilero Esther Pousa Eva Grasa Ana Barajas Isabel Ruiz‐Delgado Jordi Cid Fermin Gonzalez‐Higueras Alejandra Guasp Blanca Llácer Maria Jose Escartí Juan Antonio Carbonell‐Asins Steffen Moritz Julio Sanjuán Susana Ochoa Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of metacognitive training for psychosis (MCT). The primary goal was to study the severity and the different dimensions of delusions. The secondary goal was to study its impact on self‐esteem and depressive symptoms. Methods This study was planned as a multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial. A sample of 122 patients with a recent‐onset diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders was randomized to receive an MCT intervention ( N  = 65) or a psychoeducational intervention ( N  = 57). Patients were assessed at three different time points (baseline, post‐treatment and 6 months follow‐up) with the following measures: the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scale‐Delusion subscale (PSYRATS‐Del), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II) and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSE). A generalized linear model comparing the MCT group and psychoeducational group in the main measures across all three assessment moments was constructed, controlling for the number of sessions they attended. Results In comparison with the psychoeducational group, MCT improved in several dimensions of delusions at the follow‐up: amount of preoccupation about delusions ( p  = 0.048), duration of preoccupation about delusions ( p  = 0.048) and conviction ( p  = 0.048). No differences between groups were found in self‐esteem or depression at any time‐point, but both interventions improved self‐esteem—in the follow‐up. Conclusions In recent‐onset psychosis patients, MCT demonstrated the expected benefits in conviction, as ‘sowing seeds of doubt’ is the core MCT mechanism of change. Despite functioning differently, both interventions improved patients' self‐esteem. No superiority of MCT was discovered in self‐esteem or depression in the short‐term follow‐up studied. 10.1002/cpp.70284 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
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spellingShingle Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Metacognitive Training (MCT) in a Sample of Patients With Recent Onset Psychosis: Study of the Impact on the Severity and Dimensions of Delusions, Self‐Esteem and Depression
Esther Lorente‐Rovira
Ana Luengo
Maria Luisa Barrigón
Raquel Lopez Carrilero
Esther Pousa
Eva Grasa
Ana Barajas
Isabel Ruiz‐Delgado
Jordi Cid
Fermin Gonzalez‐Higueras
Alejandra Guasp
Blanca Llácer
Maria Jose Escartí
Juan Antonio Carbonell‐Asins
Steffen Moritz
Julio Sanjuán
Susana Ochoa
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Metacognitive Training (MCT) in a Sample of Patients With Recent Onset Psychosis: Study of the Impact on the Severity and Dimensions of Delusions, Self‐Esteem and Depression Esther Lorente‐Rovira Ana Luengo Maria Luisa Barrigón Raquel Lopez Carrilero Esther Pousa Eva Grasa Ana Barajas Isabel Ruiz‐Delgado Jordi Cid Fermin Gonzalez‐Higueras Alejandra Guasp Blanca Llácer Maria Jose Escartí Juan Antonio Carbonell‐Asins Steffen Moritz Julio Sanjuán Susana Ochoa Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of metacognitive training for psychosis (MCT). The primary goal was to study the severity and the different dimensions of delusions. The secondary goal was to study its impact on self‐esteem and depressive symptoms. Methods This study was planned as a multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial. A sample of 122 patients with a recent‐onset diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders was randomized to receive an MCT intervention ( N  = 65) or a psychoeducational intervention ( N  = 57). Patients were assessed at three different time points (baseline, post‐treatment and 6 months follow‐up) with the following measures: the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scale‐Delusion subscale (PSYRATS‐Del), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II) and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSE). A generalized linear model comparing the MCT group and psychoeducational group in the main measures across all three assessment moments was constructed, controlling for the number of sessions they attended. Results In comparison with the psychoeducational group, MCT improved in several dimensions of delusions at the follow‐up: amount of preoccupation about delusions ( p  = 0.048), duration of preoccupation about delusions ( p  = 0.048) and conviction ( p  = 0.048). No differences between groups were found in self‐esteem or depression at any time‐point, but both interventions improved self‐esteem—in the follow‐up. Conclusions In recent‐onset psychosis patients, MCT demonstrated the expected benefits in conviction, as ‘sowing seeds of doubt’ is the core MCT mechanism of change. Despite functioning differently, both interventions improved patients' self‐esteem. No superiority of MCT was discovered in self‐esteem or depression in the short‐term follow‐up studied. 10.1002/cpp.70284 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
title Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Metacognitive Training (MCT) in a Sample of Patients With Recent Onset Psychosis: Study of the Impact on the Severity and Dimensions of Delusions, Self‐Esteem and Depression
topic Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpp.70284