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

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.

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