Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42178556›Full record

ReviewAnnals of general psychiatry2026

The effect of metacognitive therapy on depressive symptoms from a transdiagnostic perspective: a systematic review, meta-regression and meta-analysis.

Zahra Torabi, Masoud Nikfarjam, Ahmad Karami Dorcheh

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Annals of general psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Zahra TorabiDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Masoud NikfarjamDepartment of Psychiatry, Clinical Research Development Unit, Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Ahmad Karami DorchehDepartment of Psychiatry, Clinical Research Development Unit, Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Ahmadkarami373@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMetacognitive therapy (MCT) is a modern therapeutic approach gaining wider use for psychological problems. This review evaluates the efficacy of MCT on depressive symptom severity.

methodThis review followed Cochrane and PRISMA-2020 guidelines. A comprehensive literature search revealed 51 studies on the efficacy of MCT, of which 33 were trials. A random-effects model was used to assess treatment efficacy. We calculated effect sizes using (Hedge's g) SMD for the percentage change index. (PROSPERO registration (CRD420251024202)).

resultsWithin-group aggregate effect sizes for the depression outcome measure, mean change for studies was Hedge's g = (-2.29), 95% CI (-2.75 | -1.83), (P < 0.001). Between-group analyses combined effect size for depression outcome, the mean change of aggregate effect size for the studies comparing MCT to the control group was Hedge's g =(-1.28), 95% CI (-1.71 | -0.86). Both effect sizes were highly significant (Ps < 0.000).

conclusionsFindings indicate that metacognitive therapy appears to be an efficacious intervention for depressive disorders and is superior to waitlist control conditions. However, interpretation is limited by small sample sizes and the lack of active comparison groups. Future investigations should employ larger samples and include head-to-head comparisons with other evidence-based psychotherapies.

Indexed as

DepressionDepressive symptomsMCTMetacognitive therapy

Identifiers

PMID42178556
PMCPMC13383551

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.