This is the main paper to be produced from a trial of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) with people who have learning disabilities and anger problems that was supported by the National Institute for Health Research through an award of over a million pounds. John Rose (pictured right) and Biza Stenfert Kroese (pictured left) who work in the clinical group in the School of Psychology were integral members of the team.
John was involved in developing the therapeutic intervention and managing the delivery of the trial in England and Biza took a lead in the development and evaluation of the qualitative elements of the trial. The qualitative research methods complimented the quantitative ones so that while the evaluation used specific outcomes we were also able to consider issues of process to demonstrate, for example, what aspects of therapy were important to individuals.
This is first large scale rigorous evaluation of CBT with this client group and demonstrates that it can be effectively adapted to cater for people with significant intellectual deficits. The paper contains information about the main outcomes. We will be producing other papers based on the qualitative data over the next few months.
Reference:
Willner P, Rose J, Jahoda A, Kroese BS, Felce D, Cohen D, MacMahon P, Stimpson A, Rose N, Gillespie D, Shead J, Lammie C, Woodgate C, Townson J, Nuttall J and Hood K. Group-based cognitive-behavioural anger management for people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities: cluster randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, ePub online ahead of print publication, 21 March 2013
View the press release on the Royal College of Psychiatrists website