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Improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT): are they applicable to people with intellectual disabilities?
- Authors:
- DODD Karen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 5(2), March 2011, pp.29-34.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme was established to support primary care trusts (PCT) in treating people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Plans are now under way for a full roll-out of IAPT services, yet little attention has been paid to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. IAPT published a Positive Practice Guide for people with intellectual disabilities in 2009, but no PCT has declared a special interest in adapting IAPT to meet the needs of this group of people. This paper considers whether current IAPT services can meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities, and suggests adaptations that would be needed to ensure the service is accessible and meets the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. It concludes that it is unclear how effective the clearly structured pathways or stepped care approaches recommended in IAPT are for people with intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities should be included in local IAPT services but with adaptations required to meet their needs. Audit and research are needed to look at the effectiveness of IAPT services for people with intellectual disabilities.
Psychological and other non-pharmacological interventions in services for people with learning disabilities and dementia
- Author:
- DODD Karen
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 4(1), March 2010, pp.28-36.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article describes the current research regarding people with learning disabilities who develop dementia. The author notes that current interest has largely focused on epidemiology, prevalence, assessment and diagnosis, and that there has been less focus on care issues and interventions. Currently, there is a lack of research material, but a growing number of books and resource packs are addressing these issues. The author suggests that psychological and non-pharmacological approaches are useful in services for people with learning disabilities and dementia, but must be delivered in line with a clear conceptual framework of dementia that aids staff in understanding what is happening to the person with dementia and the effect of their care and responses. This paper outlines the most commonly used approaches, including developing an understanding of dementia, anxiety and stress reduction, life story work, reminiscence, reality orientation and validation techniques, helping peers to understand dementia, other therapeutic approaches, and understanding behaviour and dementia care mapping and their impact on the well-being of people with learning disabilities and dementia and the people who support them.