Metacognitive functioning in love addiction: An exploratory brief report

• The study explores metacognitive processes in patients with Love Addiction • Self-reflective skills with poor understanding of others' minds emerged in patients • The study provides first evidence on metacognition in Love Addiction Concerning research on behavioral addictions, literature focused on metacognitive beliefs, pointing out a gap in understanding the underlying processes of metacognition. Metacognitive functioning is recognized as a transdiagnostic construct across psychopathological conditions. To explore this aspects, 30 interviews with individual diagnosed with Love Addiction were transcribed and analyzed using the Metacognition Assessment Scale (MAS). Findings indicate that while patients demonstrate a solid grasp of their own mental states, they struggle to comprehend others' minds, both from an egocentric and decentered perspective. Additionally, the most frequently employed coping strategy for managing psychological distress involves the voluntary regulation of mental states, directly modifying maladaptive perceptions. This study serves as an initial step toward a more comprehensive clinical understanding of Love Addiction, identifying both the most impaired and the more functional metacognitive domains.