Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Open Access

Abstract

A Two Year Follow up Study of Group Metacognitive Therapy for Depression in Norway

Toril Dammen, Costas Papageorgiou and Adrian Wells

Objective: Preliminary data support the implementation of individual metacognitive therapy (MCT) for depression and recently published data indicate that group MCT in the treatment of depression is effective and well-accepted. This study examined 12 and 24 months follow up of patients treated with group MCT. We conducted a one and two year follow-up of an open trial of group MCT.

Method: Ten patients who were consecutively referred by general practitioners to a specialist psychiatric practice in Norway participated in an open trial of the effects and feasibility associated with group MCT for depression. All of the patients met the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) and were followed up for 6 months, one and two year. The primary symptom outcome measure was severity of depression whilst secondary outcome measures included levels of anxiety, rumination, and metacognitive beliefs. We also assessed recovery rates and changes in comorbid Axis I and Axis II diagnoses at one and two year follow up.

Result: Large clinically significant improvements across all measures that were detected at post-treatment were maintained at one year and two year follow up. Based on objectively defined recovery criteria, 70% of the patients were classified as recovered at 1 year and 80% at 2 year follow up.

Conclusion: These preliminary data indicate that group MCT in the treatment of depression had sustained efficacy after one and two years, beyond what has been typically reported for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).