title: A systematic review and meta-analysis on controlled treatment trials of metacognitive therapy for anxiety disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on controlled treatment trials of meta-cognitive therapy for anxiety disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were included if they employed controlled methodology and treated people above 18 years with anxiety disorders. Case studies (with less than 4 cases) and single case designed studies were excluded. A comprehensive literature search identified 15 trials for systematic review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All included studies showed better treatment results in the MCT arms compared to the control groups. We also statistically pooled the results across studies (when possible). The meta-analyses also showed that MCT had statistically significant better results compared to the control groups in GAD (both immediately post-treatment and 12 months post-therapy results), OCD, and PTSD (p-values ranged <0.0001-0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of our systematic review, MCT seems to be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders and can effectively control their psychological problems.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Ibne Sina Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Naghmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mokhber
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Leili Zarif
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Ibne Sina Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Negar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asgharipour
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Ibne Sina Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seyfi
keywords: Anxiety disorders; meta-analysis; meta-cognitive therapy