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. 2022 Apr;19(2):97-102.
doi: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20220203.

Impulsivity and Metacognition in a Psychiatric Population

Fabrizio Turiaco  1 , Antonio Bruno  1 , Carmela Mento  1 , Clemente Cedro  1 , Gianluca Pandolfo  1 , Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello  1
Affiliations

Impulsivity and Metacognition in a Psychiatric Population

Fabrizio Turiaco et al. Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to examine a possible relationship among the three constructs of impulsivity, according to Barratt's theory and metacognition subdimensions, as described in Wells and Cartwright-Hatton's theory, in various psychiatric disorders, in order to explore the potential predictive role of impulsivity on metacognition.

Method: The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) and the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) were administered to a sample of 100 patients affected by psychiatric disorders. Linear regression was used first to study the relationship between impulsivity as an independent variable and metacognition as a dependent variable and then to evaluate the relationship between the three construct of impulsivity and the five subdimensions of metacognition.

Results: BIS-11 total score was a valid predictor of Total MCQ-30 (p <.0001), whereas Attentive Impulsiveness was a good predictor of the factors "Negative Beliefs" (p <.0001), "Cognitive Confidence" (p =.004) and "Need to control thoughts" (p =.002).

Conclusions: since "Attentive Impulsiveness", "Negative believes", "Cognitive Confidence" and "Need to Control Thought" are psychological constructs, psychotherapy is the more effective tool to intervene on their imbalance. In particular, literature demonstrates the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness therapies in rebalancing impulsivity and enhancing metacognitive skills.

Keywords: attentional impulsiveness; cognitive confidence; impulsivity; metacognition; need to control; negative beliefs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None.

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