Efficacy of Metacognitive Therapy in Reducing Thoughts Fusion in Outpatients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Previous investigations have indicated that there is a relationship between Meta cognition and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), but there isnt enough study about efficacy of metacognitive therapy in reducing thoughts fusion. So, this study aimed to examine the efficacy of Metacognitive Behavior Therapy (MCBT) on reducing thoughts fusion in outpatients with BDD. In this experimental study, one sample was selected from the dermatology and cosmetic surgery clinic in Isfahan through voluntary sampling. Twenty subjects were then randomly selected from the patients with BDD referring to this cosmetic surgery clinic and were randomly assigned to one experimental and one control group. Thoughts Fusion Inventory (TFI) was then administered to both groups as pretest. Then, the experimental group received Metacognitive Behavioral Therapy (MCBT) in 8 sessions weekly and the control group received nothing. Post-tests were then administered to both groups immediately after the treatment and 3 months later. The data were analyzed through covariance. The results showed that MCBT was followed by a significant decrease in Thoughts Fusion (p<0.01). Compared with the pretest, the experimental group showed a 65% decrease in the rate of thoughts fusion in the immediate post-test and a 56% decrease in the follow-up (p<0.0001). This intervention is believed to reduce thoughts fusion by facilitating transmission from the object mode to the metacognitive and enhancing the efficient and flexible coping skills. Thus, we might reduce the Thoughts Fusion in BDD by this method of therapy.