Background Sexual abuse has been associated with trauma, low self-esteem, anger, depression and challenging behaviours. This pilot study builds on a small published literature by evaluating a survivors group (SG) for women with an intellectual disability and an educational support group (ESG) for their carers. Method The SG was delivered weekly over 5 months for 20 sessions and the ESG ran concurrently for their seven carers in a separate room within the same communitybased building. Participants were helped to build trust and rapport, provided with education about sexual abuse designed for their level of ability, and helped to reprocess the trauma of their sexual abuse. Results Both the SG and the ESG were evaluated using a repeated-measures design (double baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment and follow up), to see whether there was any improvement in relevant clinical dependent variables associated with the consequences of sexual abuse (i.e. trauma, self-esteem, anger, depression and challenging behaviour). Improvements occurred in sexual knowledge, trauma and depression. Neither self-esteem nor anger improved for most of the SG and challenging behaviour worsened at first before improving. Conclusions The SG seemed to be successful in improving sexual knowledge and in reducing trauma and depression, although challenging behaviours worsened at first before improving. There is a need for more sexual abuse/sexual education groups for men and women with intellectual disabilities.

Accessible summary• People with learning disabilities are more likely to experience sexual things happening to them when they do not want them to. This is called sexual abuse. • A group was started to help some women who have been sexually abused.• Women who wanted to attend the group were given information about it and asked on three separate occasions if they wanted to attend. Their carers helped them and went to a different group upstairs in the same building. • We found that the group helped the women feel less scared and depressed and helped the women's carers understand them better. • This research matters because it helped the women move on with their lives and will help others who want to start a group. SummaryIn his capacity as a Clinical Psychologist the author provides psychological support to people with learning disabilities living in hospital and in the community. Frequently, the problem behaviour highlighted in referral letters (such as sexualized behaviour, anger management or self-harm) is formulated as relating to a past history of abuse and neglect which they had experienced. In view of increasing client referrals and a limited research literature the author established a small team, developed and then piloted a survivors' group for women with a learning disability. The pilot achieved ethical approval and the survivors' group ran concurrently with an educational support group for their carers. For more details about this pilot study see Peckham (2005) Developing, delivering and evaluating a survivors group pilot in Northumberland for women with significant learning disabilities who have been sexually abused. Unpublished DClinPsych Thesis, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne; and Peckham et al. (2007). These articles summarize the research literature in the area of sexual abuse and describe, in detail, the problem of delivering and evaluating a survivors' group for women with learning disabilities.

The PANSS and PSYRATS are promising measures for use with people with mild IDs and psychotic experiences, although further investigation of items relating to negative symptoms and delusions is warranted.

Accessible summary• People with learning disabilities are more likely to experience sexual things happening to them when they do not want them to. This is called sexual abuse. • A group was started to help women who have been sexually abused. The group met once a week and lasted for 20 weeks. • Women who were interested in attending this group were given information about it and asked on three separate occasions if they wanted to attend. • Seven women with learning disabilities took part in the group and their carers helped them travel to the group and then went into a separate carers group upstairs. After the groups had finished the carers helped the women get home again. • Some of the women found it very difficult to talk about the sexual abuse that had happened to them. At first they felt very upset and two women hurt themselves. Everybody felt angry about what had happened and it was good to hear they were not alone. • After several months the group helped the women feel less scared and depressed and helped the women's carers understand them better. • This research matters because it helped the women move on with their lives and will help others who want to start a survivors' of sexual abuse group.

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