Does meta-cognitive theory enhance our understanding of pathological worryand anxiety?

This study tests several tenets of Wells' meta-cognitive theory of Generali sed Anxiety Disorder (GAD) by using the Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire (MCQ) , which was designed to measure meta-cognition in GAD, The MCQ Cognitive Co nfidence subscale (MC-CC) predicted anxiety symptoms even after controlling for both trait anxiety and trait worry. In addition, the MCQ Uncontrollabi lity and Danger (MCQ-UD) subscale had the highest correlation with a discri minant function that correctly classified 80.6% of nonanxious, nonworried-a nxious, and GAD participants. Finally, participants who met GAD criteria ex hibited significantly higher levels of meta-worry than nonanxious and nonwo rried-anxious participants, and exhibited both positive and negative belief s about worry. These results offer additional support for Wells' meta-cogni tive theory of GAD, but also highlight some of its limitations with respect to predictive validity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .