The aims of this review were to systematically identify, critically appraise and synthesize the results of existing qualitative literature exploring the views and experiences of intimate relationships amongst people with intellectual disabilities. Fourteen peer-reviewed articles were identified through a systematic search of eight databases, reference lists, citations, and relevant journals. The identified articles were appraised for quality, then synthesized using a metaethnography approach. No study met all quality criteria and references to ethical approval were often lacking. Interpretation of the findings suggested three key themes: the meaning of intimate relationships, external constraints and facilitators, and managing external constraints. Though many people with intellectual disabilities desire and benefit from intimate relationships, they experience restrictions that others do not, which can lead to isolation and loneliness. Intimate relationships are not always necessarily linked with sexual behavior; therefore, intimate relationships warrant their own focus in future research, as well as in education and training for people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers. Within this, a commitment to transparency over research processes is needed, in particular with reference to how ethical approval was obtained, since this has been a shortcoming of research with this focus to date.

Visual working memory (WM) was investigated in young (18-35 yrs) and older (63-88 yrs) adults by assessing use of visual and verbal processing, and strategic approach. Experiment 1 comprised a visual interference paradigm, to investigate visual rehearsal during an abstract visual WM task. Results suggested both groups used a visual strategy, but older adults struggled more when visual interference was administered first, perhaps due to difficulty developing non-visual strategies. In Experiment 2, a more meaningful task version was additionally administered, offering greater opportunity for multimodal coding. Despite the marked effect of age, both groups benefited from semantic availability to the same extent. Young adults reported a verbal strategy more than older adults, who reported less verbal labelling and more visual refreshing, and a less efficient approach overall. The results highlight age-related limitations in visual WM capacity and strategy use, but show potential for compensation, and a role for task practice.

Background Care staff supporting people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) report accepting views on PWID's sexual expression, but people with intellectual disabilities report their sexual expression is restricted by care staff. Methods We recruited a panel of 17 UK clinical psychologists experienced in helping care staff support PWID's sexual expression. We used the Delphi Method to develop consensus‐based practice guidelines for UK clinical psychologists supporting care staff in this way. Results Having proposed three guidelines each in Round One, panel members reached consensus (≥90% agreement) that 12 were important, falling under four themes: “Addressing staff attitudes,” “Addressing uncertainty about rights and responsibilities of people with intellectual disabilities,” “Locating the problem, being part of the solution,” and “Supporting care staff to understand and reflect upon their role.” Conclusions Clinical psychologists help care staff support PWID's sexual expression by normalizing care staff concerns, encouraging reflection, clarifying PWID's rights, and prompting those at managerial and service level to support care staff.

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