Metacognition as predictor of emotional distress in cancer patients

Cancer patients often have to deal with numerous side effects andpsychological distress during chemotherapy. Research highlights thatdysfunctional metacognitive beliefs are the basis for the development andmaintenance of emotional disorders. The present research is a firstattempt to explore how metacognitions influence anxiety and depressionin cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. A sample of 175 cancerpatients undergoing chemotherapy completed a demographicquestionnaire, the MCQ-30, and the HADS. Medical information aboutthe stage of the disease and the history of treatment was provided. Theresults have shown that gender and negative beliefs explained the 61%variance for anxiety in cancer patients during chemotherapy. Age,gender, negative beliefs and cognitive self-consciousness explained the39% variance for depression in cancer patients during chemotherapy.Gender, negative beliefs and cognitive self-consciousness explained the58% variance for overall distress of patients during chemotherapy.Hence, specific metacognitive factors have a strong relationship withanxiety and depression in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.