Metacognitions, Metacognitive Processes And Met... Apr 2026

The article you are likely looking for is titled by Adrian Wells and Gerald Matthews . It was published in the Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy journal in 1994.

: Rather than challenging the content of thoughts (as in standard CBT), the authors propose that therapy should target the metacognitive processes that keep the mind stuck in a loop of distress. Why It Matters Metacognitions, metacognitive processes and met...

: The authors argue that psychological distress is not just about what we think, but how we think. They describe a cognitive architecture where emotional disorders are maintained by a "Cognitive Attentional Syndrome" (CAS). The article you are likely looking for is

: Scanning for danger or negative thoughts. Why It Matters : The authors argue that

: This consists of three main processes:

: Beliefs that thoughts are uncontrollable or dangerous (e.g., "My thoughts will drive me crazy").

: Maladaptive strategies like thought suppression or avoidance.