Metacognition in anorexia nervosa: Comparison of adolescents with anorexia nervosa and healthy controls in terms of anxiety, depression, and maternal mental symptoms

BACKGROUND: Metacognition is an emerging area of research in anorexia nervosa (AN). The primary aim of this study was to compare adolescents with AN and healthy controls on self-reported measures of metacognition, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, maternal mental symptoms were compared between the two groups. A secondary aim was to investigate the effects of self-reported depression and anxiety, as well as maternal mental symptoms, on metacognition. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven adolescents with AN and 54 healthy controls completed the Metacognition Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (MCQ-C), the Childhood Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Mothers completed the Symptom Assessment Questionnaire (SA-45). RESULTS: Multivariate analyses revealed that adolescents with AN exhibited higher scores on measures of dysfunctional metacognitive activity. These adolescents also had elevated levels of depression and anxiety, which were positively correlated with metacognitive dysfunction. Moreover, maternal mental symptoms were positively associated with the patients' metacognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Metacognitions may be central to understanding the cognitive disturbances in AN, and metacognitive treatment strategies could hold promise for the development of novel psychological interventions for AN. Further research is needed to explore the impact of depression and anxiety, along with maternal mental symptoms, on metacognition in individuals with AN.