Metacognitive training: Targeting cognitive biases

Metacognitive training (MCT) shares many of the key assumptions of cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp) and clinical techniques and is considered to be a variant of CBT. MCT represents a 'low threshold' intervention and a variety of healthcare professionals can conduct the training. One of the fundamental components of MCT is knowledge translation, or psycho-education, whereby people are informed of the latest empirical research linking cognitive biases to delusional thinking. Another important component of MCT is demonstrating in sessions the cognitive and social biases linked to psychosis via exercises that target each bias individually. Many people with psychosis also experiences low self-esteem. This may be driven by several factors; for example, the symptoms themselves (e.g., persecution, paranoia) or the stigma and shame of having a diagnosis of psychosis. The improvement of low self-esteem may also help to improve feelings of paranoia or persecution.