Sexuality and Relationships
Chair: Patsie Frawley, University of Waikato, New Zealand
Chair: Patsie Frawley, University of Waikato, New Zealand
11:00 am British Summer Time
11:00 – 11:10 am
Introduction and overview Prof Michelle McCarthy, University of Kent, UK
11:10 am – 12:20 pm
Presentations
LGBTQ people with intellectual disability: Creating research partnerships across
Amie O-Shea & Diana Piantedosi, Deakin University Australia
Intersectional identities; experiences of disabled people who identify as LGBTIQ+ in the Maltese context
Claire Azzopardi Lane & Matthew Vassallo, University of Malta
Sex and relationships education for people with learning disabilities in Camden
Daphne Santos & PJ Walsh, Camden Learning Disability Services, UK
Norwegian Social Educator students’ attitudes towards addressing sexual health
Gerd Hilde Lunde, Laila Blaalid & Kristina Areskoug Josefsson, Oslo MET University Norway
A systematic review of Relationships and Sex Education outcomes for students with intellectual disability reported in the international literature
Laura Paukauskaite , Carol Rivas, Andreas Paris & Vaso Totskia, University College London and University of Warwick, UK
Sexual health and Intellectual and developmental disability
Wenche Fjeld, Oslo MET University, Norway
12:20 – 12:50 pm
Question and Answer session
12:50 – 01:00 pm
Rounding up and future plans, Dr Dilana Schaafsma, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
02:00 pm British Summer Time
02:00 – 02:05 pm
Welcome & Introduction
02:05 – 02:30 pm
The development of a randomized controlled trial of EMDR for people with ID
Paul Willner: Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Swansea University, UK.
The Trauma-AID project was developed in response to a call by the UK National Institute for Health Research for proposals to evaluate eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults with intellectual disabilities. The project is a blinded randomized controlled trial comparing a manualized adapted EMDR protocol, which includes an extended preliminary phase of psycho-education and stabilization (PES), against treatment as usual (TAU). Progress was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which struck towards the end of an initial feasibility study. Recruitment has now commenced in 7 English NHS Trusts with the aim of recruiting 72 participants in each arm in order to evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of the PES-EMDR intervention.
This presentation will address some design issues in the development and implementation of the Trauma-AID trial including:
– Choice of diagnostic framework (DSM-5 vs. ICD-11)
– Training vs. import of EMDR therapists
– Public involvement
– Definition and measurement of ‘treatment as usual’
– Assessment measures, timepoints and informants
– Choice of primary outcome measure
– Involvement of clinicians and support for therapists
– Fidelity monitoring
– Feasibility
– Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
02:30 – 02:55 pm
Adaptations and application of EMDR for people with ID – reflections from the NIHR funded Trauma-AID study
Dr Clair Clifford
Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Independent Researcher on NIHR funded Trauma Aid study into EMDR for people with intellectual disability
Abstract:
People with intellectual disabilities are known to have high levels of trauma in their lives, and these experiences can cause significant long term impact on their wellbeing and functioning. It was considered that people with intellectual disability might struggle to make use of the NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommended EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy for trauma. The NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) supported the Trauma-AID study which has focused on applying Shapiro’s Adaptive Information Processing model and tailoring the standard EMDR protocol to the strengths and needs of people with intellectual disabilities. This presentation will introduce some of the adaptations we have made to support the delivery of EMDR to this population. There will also be reflections on how this has been received by the clinical psychologists delivering the adapted approach, and the people with intellectual disabilities who have been receiving EMDR.
03:00 – 03:25 pm
Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for people with Intellectual Disabilities: Some observations on acceptability and feasibility of face to face and remote delivery.
Dr. Biza Stenfert Kroese
Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Senior Researcher in Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
Abstract:
Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been proposed as a suitable intervention for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as it is less reliant on verbal skills than other treatments. The Trauma-AID project is a RCT evaluating the effectiveness of an EMDR protocol for adults with ID and PTSD, which incorporates a Psycho-Educational and Stabilization (PES) phase prior to the introduction of EMDR. The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated a feasibility study to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of remote or hybrid delivery of the PES+EMDR protocol. Sources of information included interviews with clients, carers and therapists, and an online survey of therapists in relation to their EMDR training cases. The majority of participants reported that the intervention had improved symptoms of PTSD and psychological well-being. PES-EMDR therapy appears both feasible and acceptable for clients and therapists, whether delivered face-to-face or in a remote or hybrid mode, although remote working appears easier for the PES phase than the EMDR phase of the intervention. Clinical and research implications will be discussed.
03:25 – 03:50 pm
Clinical Psychologists’ experiences of delivering trauma-focused therapies with individuals with intellectual disabilities
Georgia Stewart: Third year Trainee Clinical Psychologist, School of Psychology, The University of Birmingham, UK.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of experiencing psychological trauma compared to the general population. Over the past decade, the availability of evidence-based models of trauma-therapy has increased. The delivery of such models is acknowledged to be a challenging process for the therapist; however, currently little is known about therapists’ experiences of delivering these interventions. The current study therefore aimed to explore Clinical Psychologists’ experiences of delivering trauma-focused therapies with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Six Clinical Psychologists were interviewed regarding their experiences of delivering trauma-focused therapies with people with intellectual disabilities. Interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four superordinate themes were identified: ‘Therapists’ confidence’, ‘Systemic challenges’, ‘Managing the emotional impact’, and ‘Accessible support’. Themes illustrated challenges that Psychologists experience when delivering trauma-focused therapies and their emotional impact. A changing emotional impact was noted over time, with Psychologists adopting different approaches to managing emotional involvement. The importance of external support was emphasised; however, difficulties in accessing this were highlighted. Findings prompt further consideration of how trauma-focused therapies fit within a wider context of clients’ unmet social needs and limited support for Psychologists.
03:50 – 04.00 pm
Questions to the panel
04:00 pm
Close
The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) is the first and only world-wide group dedicated to the scientific study of intellectual disability.
Founded in 1964 as the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency, IASSIDD is an international, interdisciplinary and scientific non-governmental organization which promotes worldwide research and exchange of information on intellectual disabilities.
This site uses cookies. Find out more about cookies and how you can refuse them.