A Scoping Review of Psychological Interventions, Accommodations, and Assessments for Adults With Intellectual Disability

• Published in: Professional psychology, research and practice research and practice, 2022-12, Vol.53 (6), p.615-625
• Main Authors: Witwer, Andrea N., Walton, Katherine, Held, Megan K., Rosencrans, Margaret, Cobranchi, Chelsea, Fletcher, Robert, Crane, Jill M., Chapman, Richard, Havercamp, Susan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accommodation (Disabilities); Adults; Caregivers; Clinical medicine; Clinical research; Clinical training; Clinicians; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Cognitive-behavioral factors; Human; Intellectual Development Disorder; Intellectual disabilities; Intervention; Mental disorders; Psychotherapy; Self determination; Teaching
• ISSN: 0735-7028; 1939-1323
• DOI: 10.1037/pro0000474

Mental disorders in adults with intellectual disability (ID) occur at rates much higher than in those without ID; however, many clinicians report little to no training in providing clinical services to this population. Due to the historically qualitative nature of the most literature in this field, it has been difficult for clinicians to identify appropriate accommodations and assessments to make treatment more accessible to those with ID. The objective of this scoping review was to identify psychotherapy practices for adults with ID in the areas of treatment accommodations and outcome measures/treatment monitoring tools. In the absence of treatment guidelines for this population, practices were drawn from treatment outcome research. Research reports describing treatment for this population were examined to identify the types of accommodations and practices employed by clinical research scientists when delivering psychotherapy. Specific practices, accommodations and tools are suggested based on the available research. The most common type of intervention was cognitive behavior therapy (i.e., 48.1%). Key aspects of accommodations to treatment included incorporating self-determination, the use of simplified language, visual supports, involving caregivers, and teaching prerequisite skills. This review details the accommodations and provides some practical suggestions and resources for clinicians when providing psychotherapy to adults with ID. Public Significance Statement This study summarizes common accommodations (e.g., visual supports, involvement of caregiver) included in psychotherapy research for adults with intellectual disability. It provides clinicians with accommodations and adaptations to consider using during informed consent, assessment, treatment and outcome evaluation and resources to assist in this process.