KEYNOTE ABSTRACTS

Metacognitive Therapy: The Treatment of Traumatic Stress

Metacognitive theory and therapy has developed over 25 years and was expressed as a generic self-regulatory framework, the S-REF model (Wells & Matthews, 1994). This has become grounding for disorder specific approaches, many of which are covered in this conference. In this keynote the metacognitive model of PTSD will be presented and the stages of treatment described. It asserts that the process of emotional recovery after trauma is modulated by the individual’s style of thinking. The focus is on removing specific factors that prevent cognition from returning to the normal ‘safe-mode’ of processing. Metacognitive knowledge and strategies are central in the down-regulation or maintenance of threat-related processing and these are targeted in treatment. An advantage of this approach is that it does not rely on imaginal reliving, recounting of traumatic memories or challenging of thoughts about the trauma. Evidence from uncontrolled and controlled trials of the effects of MCT will be reviewed. The data shows that the treatment is effective producing large and stable effects and high recovery rates in approximately 8 sessions.

Reference
Wells, A. (2008). Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression. New York: Guilford Press.