Cognitive attentional syndrome and metacognitive beliefs as potential treatment targets for metacognitive therapy in bipolar disorder

Most treatment guidelines emphasize the use of psychotropic drugs for both the acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder (BD). However, relying only on psychotropics without adjunctive psychosocial interventions may be insufficient in treating patients with BD. Given its unique view in the explanation of psychopathological states, metacognitive therapy (MCT) might be helpful for BD. Metacognitive theory posits that psychopathology is a result of the cognitive attentional syndrome (CAS) and that it is influenced and maintained by dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, perseverative thinking, attentional biases, and dysfunctional coping strategies. In this review, literature data regarding these areas in BD are examined. Studies suggest that perseverative thinking might be among the emotion regulation strategies endorsed in individuals with BD. Regarding attentional biases, literature data show that state-dependent, mood-changing attentional biases and a ruminative self-focused attention are present. Studies also suggest that cognitive self-consciousness is higher in BD compared to controls. It is seen that maladaptive coping strategies are frequently reported in BD, and that these strategies are associated with depression severity, negative affect and relapse risk. Studies focusing on dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs in BD reported that individuals with BD had higher scores for negative metacognitive beliefs, self-consciousness, need to control thoughts, and a lack of cognitive confidence. Also, dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs were associated with depressive symptomatology. These findings suggest that the components of CAS and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs are evident in BD. For a subgroup of patients with BD who fail to respond to evidence-based psychopharmacological and adjunctive psychotherapeutic interventions, MCT might be an alternative way to consider as a treatment option. In conclusion, taken the available data together, we propose a sequential treatment protocol for BD, mainly based on the MCT treatment plan of depressive disorders.