the efficacy of group metacognitive therapy on self-esteem and mental health of patients suffering from major depressive disorder

objective: the present research aims to analyze the efficacy of group metacognitive therapy (mct) on selfesteem and mental health of those who suffer from major depressive disorder. methods: the research was a randomized clinical controlled trial, using pretest and posttest with 2 months of follow-up. twenty-two patients with major depressive disorder based on dsm-iv-tr criteria were selected through available sampling from patients of two psychiatric hospitals of mashhad, iran, in 2011. they were allocated randomly into two groups of trial (n = 11) and control (n = 11). citalopram and sertraline were prescribed as antidepressant to both groups. the experimental group also attended nine 90-minute sessions of mct (a 5-week program). eysenck self-esteem scale (eses) and mental health checklist (mhc) were used in pretest, posttest, and follow-up as the study instrument. the data were analyzed by analysis of covariance (ancova) using spss. results: ancova revealed that the patients receiving group mct had significantly increased (p < 0.001) self-esteem in posttest, which remained significant in the follow up (p < 0.001). moreover, mental health scores had increased in the mct group (posttest, p < 0.001 follow up, p < 0.001). conclusion: group mct has beneficial therapeutic roles in improving the self-steam and recuperation of mental health in mdd patients.