Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 7(5), 2013, pp.284-292.
Publisher:
Emerald
Purpose: This paper evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in the treatment of social anxiety with a 19-year-old man with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autistic spectrum disorders.
Design/methodology/approach: The intervention was evaluated using an A-B single case design. An idiosyncratic measure was developed to measure anxiety symptoms on a daily basis. The brief symptom inventory (BSI; Derogatis, 1975) measured symptom patterns across nine psychological dimensions and was administered at initial assessment, pre-intervention and post-intervention.
Findings: Visual and statistical analysis of the data showed that anxiety severity dramatically reduced throughout the course of therapy, reaching and maintaining zero and this was statistically significant. Data seemed to show that sudden gains in the reduction of anxiety severity occurred during the relaxation and cognitive phases of intervention. This sudden gain coincided with an increase in daily activities, and exposure to more anxiety provoking events which was also statistically significant. Global anxiety scores, as measured by the BSI, showed a notable reduction at post-treatment.
Originality/value: This paper demonstrates that CBT can bring about meaningful improvements in the treatment of anxiety in people with ID and autism and suggests that further exploration with the wider population is needed.
(Publisher abstract)
Purpose: This paper evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in the treatment of social anxiety with a 19-year-old man with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autistic spectrum disorders.
Design/methodology/approach: The intervention was evaluated using an A-B single case design. An idiosyncratic measure was developed to measure anxiety symptoms on a daily basis. The brief symptom inventory (BSI; Derogatis, 1975) measured symptom patterns across nine psychological dimensions and was administered at initial assessment, pre-intervention and post-intervention.
Findings: Visual and statistical analysis of the data showed that anxiety severity dramatically reduced throughout the course of therapy, reaching and maintaining zero and this was statistically significant. Data seemed to show that sudden gains in the reduction of anxiety severity occurred during the relaxation and cognitive phases of intervention. This sudden gain coincided with an increase in daily activities, and exposure to more anxiety provoking events which was also statistically significant. Global anxiety scores, as measured by the BSI, showed a notable reduction at post-treatment.
Originality/value: This paper demonstrates that CBT can bring about meaningful improvements in the treatment of anxiety in people with ID and autism and suggests that further exploration with the wider population is needed.
(Publisher abstract)
... disorders; suicide and self harm; phobias and rituals; hypochondraisis and inappropriate illness behaviour; eating disorders; anger and impulse control; post traumatic disorders; children and young people; and mental disorders of older people. Section three is on mental health initiatives and looks at: advocacy; self help; and alternatives to traditional mental health treatments.
Section one contains orienting material and looks at: the consumer of mental health care; the history of mental health nursing and psychiatry; government policy and the organisation of mental health care; general consultation skills; principles of assessment; and evaluation of mental health nursing. Section two looks at approaches to user problems and includes information on: Schizophrenia; mood disorders; suicide and self harm; phobias and rituals; hypochondraisis and inappropriate illness behaviour; eating disorders; anger and impulse control; post traumatic disorders; children and young people; and mental disorders of older people. Section three is on mental health initiatives and looks at: advocacy; self help; and alternatives to traditional mental health treatments.
Subject terms:
law, mental health problems, mental health services, nursing, older people, phobias, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, self-help, service users, severe mental health problems, suicide, young people, advocacy, children, depression, eating disorders, evaluation, evidence-based practice;