Evaluating a mindfulness-based group intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-01-2022-0001 |
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| Pages | 135-146 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
| Author | Niall Power,Gregg H. Rawlings,Claire Bennett |
Evaluating a mindfulness-based group
intervention for adults with intellectual
disabilities
Niall Power, Gregg H. Rawlings and Claire Bennett
Abstract
Purpose –There is growing evidence examining mindfulness-based interventions(MI) for people with
intellectual disabilities(IDs). As discussed in this paper, MI may be particularlysuited for people with ID
given high rates of difficultiesin identifying and regulating emotions andas this approach may rely less
on cognitive ability compared to other therapies. This study aims to assess the acceptability and
preliminary effectiveness of a six-session MI group [the Coping Well Group (CWG)] delivered within
routineclinical practice.
Design/methodology/approach –Six separate cohorts (n= 25) of adults with ID attended CWG.
Quantitative data were collected from service users, including a pre- and post-quality of life (QoL)
measureand qualitative data from group facilitators.
Findings –Roughly one-half (53%) of serviceusers invited to the group attended at least one session,
with low levels of dropout observed among group attendees. A significant improvement in QoL was
reported demonstratinga small effect (d= 0.46, p= 0.022) after attending the group. Mostservice users
(72%) were referred to the CWG for help managing difficult emotions. One-half (44%) of attendees
required individual therapy after attending the group. Limitations of the evaluation and potential future
researchare discussed.
Originality/value –The current evaluation contributes a practice-based service evaluation of an MI
group for people withID and mental health difficulties to the currentlylimited evidence base. To the best
of the authors’ knowledge,this is one of the first studies to investigate the impactof group psychological
interventions collectingdata across cohorts and assessing QoL, a more general measure of well-being
than has been used previously.
Keywords Qualitative,Learning disability,Stepped care, Group interventions, Qualityof life, Third wave
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
People with an intellectual disability (ID) are at a greater risk of experiencing mental health
conditions than the general population.For example, a review of the 2011 Scotland Census
found in individuals aged 16–64years old, 23.4% of people with ID reported a mental health
condition compared to 5.3% in those without ID (Hughes-McCormack et al.,2017). While it
was once believed that psychological therapies were not appropriate, nor effective for this
population, the ever-growing number of studies in this area have helped to largely dispel
such long-held assumptions (Hassiotis et al., 2011). Indeed, current clinical guidelines in
the UK recommend the use of psychological treatments for this population; however,
interventions must be tailored to the client’s preferences, level of understanding, strengths
and needs, among other considerations(NICE, 2016).
In the UK, primary care mental health services for the general population aim to deliver
interventions using a “stepped care” model (Layard and Clarke, 2014). This means, those
Niall Power is based at the
Department of Psychology
and Counselling, Ash
Green Specialist Learning
Disability Service,
Derbyshire Community
Health Services NHS
Foundation Trust, Bakewell,
UK. Gregg H. Rawlings is
based at the Psychology
Department, Nottingham
Trent University,
Nottingham, UK.
Claire Bennett is based at
the Community Learning
Disability Team, Sheffield
Health and Social Care
NHS Foundation Trust,
Sheffield, UK.
Received 3 January 2022
Revised 26 January 2022
Accepted 31 January 2022
The authors would like to thank
Sarah Ryan, Eram Khan and
Amy Boler for their contributions
and hard work supporting
facilitation of the Coping Well
Group.
DOI 10.1108/AMHID-01-2022-0001 VOL. 16 NO. 3 2022, pp. 135-146, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 jADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIESjPAGE 135
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