A systematic review of community psychosocial group interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions

Abstract

Background People with intellectual disabilities have a high risk of developing mental ill‐health. Treatment is often neglected and diagnosis is misattributed to a person's disability. Standard psychosocial interventions can improve a person's well‐being. This review aimed to understand what interventions are being delivered, any benefits, and future recommendations. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and the review registered with PROSPERO—CRD42020160254. Databases searched included: MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO. A framework synthesis approach was used to present the findings. Results There are limited psychosocial interventions offered for this population. When groups are delivered having a creative element, multiple activities over a short period of time, with breaks and group rules outcomes can be improved. Conclusions Adaptations and reasonable adjustments should be used specifically to a person's ability. A mixed‐method design allows people to share their experiences alongside quantitative data that provides clinical information.

Evaluating a mindfulness-based group intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities

“…Group interventions have been successfully delivered to people across the lifespan, presenting with a range of difficulties and within health services around the world. Similarly, a recent systematic review synthesised the growing evidence from 21 studies demonstrating the effectiveness of group interventions for people with ID using different approaches, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, narrative therapy and compassion-focused therapy (Bourne et al , 2021).…”

Advances for future working following an online dramatherapy group for adults with intellectual disabilities and mental ill health during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A service evaluation for Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

“…It led to a package of development for clinical teams working on the frontline with an aim to have a better understanding of the differing needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Despite this, and a number of different initiatives, a large health inequalities gap still exists for people with intellectual disabilities (Bourne et al, 2022 ; Public Health England, 2020 ).…”

“…The Get Going Group online is an adaption of a community dramatherapy group and psychosocial intervention that ran successfully for over 6 years face to face before the pandemic (Bourne et al, 2020 ; Hackett & Bourne, 2014 ). Psychosocial interventions can be described as interventions that emphasise psychological, behavioural or social factors rather than biological factors such as pharmacotherapy (Bourne et al, 2021 ). Their benefits for the general population include interpersonal, informational activities and techniques that target biological, behavioural, cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, social or environmental factors to improve a person's health function and wellbeing (Beail, 2016 ).…”

“…Their benefits for the general population include interpersonal, informational activities and techniques that target biological, behavioural, cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, social or environmental factors to improve a person's health function and wellbeing (Beail, 2016 ). We know that psychosocial interventions adapted for people with intellectual disabilities are beneficial, particularly interventions that have a creative element (Bourne et al, 2021 ). The dramatherapy group was initiated following the implementation of the Transforming Care programme (DH, 2015b ), which aimed to reduce the number of people with an intellectual disability living in hospitals.…”

“…As hospital beds reduced and people began to be supported more in local communities, the groups adapted and became a contact for community patients if their mental health was declining. The benefits of these groups include: providing a creative space to share weekly challenges with learning disability professionals (Bourne et al, 2021 ), a space that offered people struggling with their mental or physical health so that wrap around care could be identified, in the form of community nurses or psychologists (Hackett & Bourne, 2014 ), a space to be able to share stories, narratives and personal experiences with peers in a mutual supporting environment (Keyes & Brandon, 2012 ). Evaluation of the ‘Get Going Group’ informs us that it offers a place to support a person's wellbeing, reduce reliance on clinical service use and avoid unplanned readmissions (Hackett & Bourne, 2014 ).…”