Psychological therapies and people who have ID: a report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and British Psychological Society
| Pages | 24-26 |
| Date | 03 January 2017 |
| Published date | 03 January 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-09-2016-0021 |
| Author | Nigel Beail |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
Psychological therapies and people
who have ID: a report from the Royal
College of Psychiatrists and British
Psychological Society
Nigel Beail
Abstract
Purpose –Over a decade ago “Psychotherapy and learning disabilities”was published by the UK Royal
College of Psychiatrists. It was decided by the Royal College and British Psychological Society’s faculties for
people who have ID to revise and update this report. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach –Experts in the field were invited to make a contributionon their approach
covering method, adaptations, service user views and outcomes.
Findings –A great deal has changed in the last decade in terms of service development and research
resulting in a much wider range of therapies being made available and there being a growing evidence base.
Research limitations/implications –Further work needs to be carried out to make such information
accessible to carers and service users.
Practical implications –The report is a useful resource for professionals involved in the support of the
mental health and emotional needs of people who have ID.
Social implications –The report should help expand the range of therapies available to people who have ID
who need then so they can live more fulfilling lives.
Originality/value –The report provide extensive coverage of the range of psychological therapies available
to people who have ID along with their evidence base.
Keywords Psychotherapy, Intellectual disability, Psychological therapy, Art therapy,
Cognitive behavioural therapy, Group therapy
Paper type Viewpoint
It is now overten years since Council ReportCR116 “Psychotherapy and learningdisability”(2004)
was publishedby the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists. Thatreport was developed and published
at a time when there was growinginterest in extending the availabilityof psychological therapies to
people who have intellectual disabilities. The 2004 report identified what was different about
providing psychotherapy services in theUK for people who have ID and this led to clarification of
training requirements to meet their needs.Reading the report from 2004 is a reminderof how the
editors and contributors at that time had to challenge the myth that people who have ID are
immune to emotional problems and unsuitable for psychological therapy. The published material
on indicators of need for psychological therapies,such as prevalence of mental health difficulties,
was small. Further,the evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of psychological therapies with
people with ID was limited(Beail, 2003). For the 2004 report the editorsconducted a survey in the
UK to try and ascertain the level of provision, but the responserate was very low. This may have
indicated a lack of provision in most areas or lack of interest. A key focus of the report was on
building up capacityto deliver psychological therapiesparticularly through the provision of training
for professionals who could provide psychological therapies.
A decade on one of the original editors of the report, Dr Roger Banks, brought together a small
group from the UK faculties of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Psychological
Received 2 September 2016
Revised 6 December 2016
Accepted 8 December 2016
Nigel Beail is a Professional
Lead for Psychological
Services at Adult Specialist
Learning Disabilities Health
Service, South West Yorkshire
Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust, Barnsley, UK.
PAGE24
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ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUALDISABILITIES
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VOL. 11 NO. 1 2017, pp.24-26, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-09-2016-0021
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