The role of metacognitive beliefs on anxiety and depression among Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis caregivers

Previous studies have investigated the role of metacognitive beliefs in patients with a chronic medical condition and their caregivers. However, there is still a paucity of studies that have examined dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and their relationships with anxiety and depression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis caregivers (ALS). This study aimed at examining the role of gender and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs on anxiety and depression in ALS patients’ caregivers. The study was conducted on a group of 70 caregivers (26 males and 44 females, mean age = 51.98, SD = 15.54) of ALS patients referred to the NEMO Clinical Centers of Messina and Milano and a matched control group drawn from the MCQ-30 Italian normative database. The Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were administered. Results showed a significant multivariate effect of gender with females scoring higher than males on anxiety and depression. Dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs had a significant multivariate effect on anxiety and depression. Finally, there were no significant differences between ALS caregivers and healthy subjects for any metacognitive factors. Further investigations might clarify the potential role of metacognitions as vulnerability factors to the development of emotional disorders.