Trauma‐specific treatment among individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities: A case series with progressive counting

Abstract

Background Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities are vulnerable to potentially traumatic events and trauma sequelae. Despite ongoing advances surrounding trauma and intellectual/developmental disabilities, trauma‐specific treatments are needed for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. This study explores the first implementation of Progressive Counting (PC), a novel trauma treatment, with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Methods A case series with descriptive analyses was used to explore the implementation and effectiveness of PC among four adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and trauma histories. Findings PC was associated with reductions in symptoms and increased quality of life. Although individual experiences required modest adaptations to the intervention, PC was generally well‐tolerated and required a limited number of treatment sessions. Conclusions PC demonstrates promise as a trauma‐specific treatment. Additional research with increased methodological rigor is warranted to further establish its efficacy. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.