Metacognitions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: A psychometric study of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30

Background: The Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) was developed to measure individual differences in metacognitive beliefs and processes, which are central to the metacognitive model of emotional disorders. Although previous research has supported the role of metacognitive beliefs and processes in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), no studies have examined the psychometric properties and factor structure of the MCQ-30 in OCD patients. The present study overcomes this limitation by exploring the factor structure and convergent validity of the MCQ-30 in a sample of OCD patients before and after psychological treatment. Method: The MCQ-30 and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) were administered to 352 OCD patients at pre-treatment and to 213 of these OCD patients at post-treatment. The factorial structure and convergent validity of the MCQ-30 were assessed using factor analyses and structural equation modelling. Results: Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses supported the originally hypothesized five-factor structure of the MCQ-30. At both time points, structural equation modelling indicated that dimensions of metacognition were significantly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Conclusions: The MCQ-30 appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring metacognitive beliefs and processes in OCD.