: Repetitive thinking about problems or feelings.

This article shifted the focus of clinical psychology from "What is the patient thinking?" to "Why is the patient thinking this way?" It explains why some people can experience a negative thought and let it go, while others spiral into anxiety or depression because their metacognitive beliefs force them to engage with the thought.

: The article identifies two types of beliefs that drive these processes:

: 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

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

This seminal paper introduced the model, which is the foundational framework for Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) . Core Concepts of the Article