IAPT practitioners’ experiences of providing therapy to people with intellectual disabilities
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-02-2015-0008 |
| Published date | 06 July 2015 |
| Pages | 206-214 |
| Date | 06 July 2015 |
| Author | Jennifer Shankland,Dave Dagnan |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
IAPT practitioners’experiences of
providing therapy to people with
intellectual disabilities
Jennifer Shankland and Dave Dagnan
Dr Jennifer Shankland is
ST5 Psychiatry of Intellectual
Disability at the Community
Learning Disability Team,
Lancashire Care NHS
Foundation Trust, Chorley and
South Ribble, UK.
Professor Dave Dagnan is
Consultant Clinical
Psychologist at the Department
of Community Learning
Disability Service, Cumbria
Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust, Workington, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to describe the views and experiences of Improving Access to
Psychological Therapies (IAPT) practitioners in providing therapy to patients who have an intellectual disability
in order to support IAPT services in increasing their capability in this area.
Design/methodology/approach –An online survey was conducted of IAPT practitioners in four
IAPT services in the north of England. The survey collected respondents demographic information
and their experience, confidence and attitudes to working with people with intellectual
disabilities. Qualitative responses regarding respondents attitudes, views of barriers, problems,
successes and possible solutions to the delivery of therapy to people with intellectual disabilities
within IAPT services were collected. The survey results were interpreted by thematic and statistical
analysis.
Findings –The majority of respondents report having worked with people with intellectual disabilities and
identify the need to adapt therapy, but also believe that such therapy should be offered within mainstream
services. Thematic analysis identifies the needs for support in training, therapy adaptation and
adjustment to pathways. However, the majority of respondents could identify positive outcomes and
experiences.
Research limitations/implications –This data supports the further development of pathways and offers
some broad frameworks for the focus of training and development work for people with intellectual disabilities
within IAPT.
Social implications –This project has identified a positive attitude and willingness to consider adaptation of
therapy for people with intellectual disabilities in practitioners working within IAPT services.
Originality/value –Until now the views and experiences of IAPT practitioners in working with this patient
group were relatively unknown.
Keywords Anxiety, Learning disability, Therapy, Depression, Psychology, IAPT
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
People with intellectual disabilities experience a high prevalence of affective disorders (Cooper
et al., 2007). Psychological therapies are recognised as being effective in treating these disorders
in the general population and there is now growing evidence for their use in the intellectual
disability population (Vereenooghe and Langdon, 2013). Government policy in England identifies
that people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems should access mainstream
services when possible (Department of Health, 2011). The Equality Act (Great Britain, 2010)
places a duty on all public bodies to promote disability equality and stipulates that “reasonable
adjustments”should be made by organisations in order to help people with disabilities to
overcome barriers in accessing services. Despite these laws being in place, patients with
Received 15 February 2015
Revised 6 May 2015
Accepted 6 May 2015
PAG E 20 6
j
ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 9 NO. 4 2015, pp. 206-214, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-02-2015-0008
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