Metacognitions, Cognitive Functions and Psychopathology

Many lines of evidence indicate that there is a strong relationship between emotional processes, cognitions, metacognitive beliefs and behaviors. Metacognition is the aspect of information processing that monitors, interprets, evaluates and regulates the contents and process of its organization (Wells, Purdon, 1999). Research highlights that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs are the basis for the development and maintenance of emotional disorders. Among the cognitive domains, executive functions include working memory, cognitive flexibility, multitasking, planning, and attention. Neuropsychological testing has shown relatively stable pattern of cognitive impairment on the basis of disease. By on other hand, evidence from several studies in both clinical and non-clinical samples highlighted the role of dimensions of metacognition as vulnerability factors in predicting development of psychological symptoms. The aim of this Symposium is to share knowledge, strategies and methods regarding the link between metacognitions, cognitive functions and psychopathology in wide range of clinical disease. The aim is also to increase the reflection on this theme in the Italian framework