scholarly journals Psychological interventions for depression in children and young people with an intellectual disability and/or autism: systematic review

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lauren A. Cameron ◽  
Katelyn Phillips ◽  
Glenn A. Melvin ◽  
Richard P. Hastings ◽  
Kylie M. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Young People ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Current Evidence Base

Background Children and young people with intellectual disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism) experience higher rates of mental health problems, including depression, than their typically developing peers. Although international guidelines suggest psychological therapies as first-line intervention for children and young people, there is limited evidence for psychological therapy for depression in children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism. Aims To evaluate the current evidence base for psychological interventions for depression in children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism, and examine the experiences of children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism, their families and therapists, in receiving and delivering psychological treatment for depression. Method Databases were searched up to 30 April 2020 using pre-defined search terms and criteria. Articles were independently screened and assessed for risk of bias. Data were synthesised and reported in a narrative review format. Results A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four identified studies were clinical case reports and six were quasi-experimental or experimental studies. All studies were assessed as being of moderate or high risk of bias. Participants with intellectual disability were included in four studies. There was limited data on the experiences of young people, their families or therapists in receiving or delivering psychological treatment for depression. Conclusions Well-designed, randomised controlled trials are critical to develop an evidence base for psychological treatment for young people with intellectual disability and/or autism with depression. Future research should evaluate the treatment experiences of young people, their families and therapists.

scholarly journals Interventions for challenging behaviour in intellectual disability

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afia Ali ◽  
Jessica Blickwedel ◽  
Angela Hassiotis
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
List Type ◽  
Challenging Behaviour ◽  
Pharmacological Treatments ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
The Individual

SummaryChallenging behaviour is common in intellectual disability but it is difficult to diagnose and manage. It can adversely affect the quality of life of the individual and cause the breakdown of community placements, resulting in hospital admission. This article discusses the aetiology of challenging behaviour (including the complex relationship with mental illness), diagnostic problems, the current evidence base in relation to psychosocial and pharmacological treatments, and service delivery.LEARNING OBJECTIVES•Understand the aetiological basis of challenging behaviour.•Understand the role of functional analysis.•Appreciate the evidence base in relation to the psychological and pharmacological treatment of challenging behaviour.

Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Cognitive Enhancement

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iulia Dud ◽  
Louise Brennan ◽  
Dene Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Current Evidence Base

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common neurodevelopmental disorders. Impairments in attention and executive functions are core characteristics of ADHD. ASD is primarily characterized by severe deficits in social communication, but cognitive impairments are common, including in attention and executive functions. Currently, there is only limited evidence for efficacy of either pharmacological or behavioral interventions for the treatment of the cognitive deficits associated with the disorders. This chapter presents the current evidence base for cognitive enhancements for ADHD and ASD. It summarizes evidence from available and experimental pharmacological interventions, as well as behavioral, cognitive, and psychosocial interventions. The chapter also discusses the limitations of current tools and future directions.

Short report: A quantitative methodological review of participant characteristics in the literature testing mental health interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110564
Author(s):  
Kelsey S Dickson ◽  
Megan Ledoux Galligan ◽  
Ho Lok
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Treatment Research

There have been significant efforts to develop, adapt, and test interventions targeting the co-occurring mental health conditions common among autistic youth, with several extant narrative and systematic reviews demonstrating the efficacy of these interventions. Yet, a methodological analysis of the literature testing these interventions, particularly the characteristics of the participant samples comprising this evidence base, is needed to contextualize our current understanding of treatment effects and highlight current gaps in the current evidence base to inform future research. This systematic quantitative methodology review characterized participants included in the mental health treatment research for autistic youth. One hundred and thirty-one articles testing mental health interventions for autism spectrum disorder were coded for youth, caregiver, and provider participant demographics. Findings indicated limited representation of females, transition age youth, racial/ethnic minority groups, and youth diverse in cognitive functioning and co-occurring mental health symptoms or conditions. Limited inclusion of providers’ representative of the clinical workforce was also noted. These results illuminate several critical gaps in the current evidence base for mental health interventions for autistic youth and provide recommendations for future research directions. Lay abstract Previous research has highlighted the importance of mental health treatment for autistic youth. In that research base, most studies focus on demonstrating the efficacy of a particular intervention with a sample of autistic youth. However, understanding the characteristics of samples used within these studies (i.e. demographics) is an important avenue for expanding this research to a more diverse, representative sample of autistic youth in community settings. As such, the current review examined and characterized participants included within mental health treatment research. We coded studies for various demographics among the youth sample, caregivers, and providers participants. Results indicated that while efforts have been made to increase diversity in research, very few studies including transition-aged youth, those identifying as female, and/or those identifying as non-Caucasian. Clinically, a few studies included youth with lower cognitive abilities and/or those with specific mental health problems (e.g. trauma and depression) or more than one co-occurring mental health conditions. Overall, our results highlight several critical gaps in our current evidence base regarding mental health treatment for autistic youth, including the limited clinical representativeness of both provider and child participants.

scholarly journals The Gut Microbiome and Mental Health: What Should We Tell Our Patients?: Le microbiote Intestinal et la Santé Mentale : que Devrions-Nous dire à nos Patients?

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 747-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary I. Butler ◽  
Sabrina Mörkl ◽  
Kiran V. Sandhu ◽  
John F. Cryan ◽  
Timothy G. Dinan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Current Evidence Base

The gut microbiome as a potential therapeutic target for mental illness is a hot topic in psychiatry. Trillions of bacteria reside in the human gut and have been shown to play a crucial role in gut–brain communication through an influence on neural, immune, and endocrine pathways. Patients with various psychiatric disorders including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder have been shown to have significant differences in the composition of their gut microbiome. Enhancing beneficial bacteria in the gut, for example, through the use of probiotics, prebiotics, or dietary change, has the potential to improve mood and reduce anxiety in both healthy people and patient groups. Much attention is being given to this subject in the general media, and patients are becoming increasingly interested in the potential to treat mental illness with microbiome-based therapies. It is imperative that those working with people with mental illness are aware of the rationale and current evidence base for such treatment strategies. In this review, we provide an overview of the gut microbiome, what it is, and what it does in relation to gut–brain communication and psychological function. We describe the fundamental principles and basic techniques used in microbiome–gut–brain axis research in an accessible way for a clinician audience. We summarize the current evidence in relation to microbiome-based strategies for various psychiatric disorders and provide some practical advice that can be given to patients seeking to try a probiotic for mental health benefit.

scholarly journals Evidence base for psychological treatment of personality disorder – a narrative review

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S278-S278
Author(s):  
Caoimhe Ni Shuilleabhain
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Current Evidence Base

AimsThis review critically appraises the up-to-date evidence base for psychological treatment of PD.BackgroundThe prevalence rate of any personality disorder (PD) in the general population has been estimated to be as high as 12% rising to over 70% in prison settings. PD is known to carry significant psychosocial and health burdens with increased mortality, increased suicide, increased substance misuse, increased crime, reduced capacity to work, poorer outcomes for comorbid mental disorders, dysfunctional engagement with services, and high economic costs through a high utilisation of healthcare systems. In the 1990s several manualised treatment strategies emerged, specifically for borderline PD. These include dialectical behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive analytic therapy, mentalization-based therapy, transference-focused psychotherapy, and schema-focussed therapy.MethodUsing relevant search criteria, literature was identified through a search of the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. Data were appraised and synthesised to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence base for psychological treatment of PD.ResultThe DSM-V defined Cluster B borderline PD has received the majority of attention. Increasing attention has been paid in recent years to the Cluster B antisocial PD. Cluster A (Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal) and Cluster C PDs (Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive Compulsive) have received relatively little attention with few studies to draw upon regarding the effectiveness of therapy. The remaining Cluster B personality disorders (Narcissistic and Histrionic) have been criticised as having poor construct validity, with a lack of rigorously designed treatment trials.A number of treatment protocols have gained empirical support. However, of those that have empirical support, there appears to be little demonstrable evidence to suggest superiority of any one of the evidence-based interventions over another. While specialised therapies are more efficacious than “treatment as usual” or treatment delivered by expert clinicians, when specialised therapies are compared with well-specified manualised general psychiatric care tailored to personality disorder, the results are different, with little consistent evidence demonstrating the superiority of specialised therapies.ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that individual therapies do not differ substantially from each other or from structured clinical care that relies on generic change factors. This is in keeping with established psychotherapy outcome literature. Current evidence would indicate that common features across the proven treatment strategies should be emphasised and implemented well. There may be justification for added interventions from specific treatment modalities targeted to specific patient problems.

Update on the effectiveness of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with ASD

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Hunsche ◽  
Connor M. Kerns
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Individual Program ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

A growing body of research has examined the efficacy of varying formats (individual, group, linear, modular) of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for anxiety disorders in children and youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present review utilized Chambless and Hollon's (1998) criteria for efficacious treatments to: (1) critically review the current evidence base for the efficacy of CBT for anxiety disorders in ASD; and (2) provide recommendations for future research. Findings identify two probably efficacious CBT programs (one group and one individual program) and five possibly efficacious programs, but no well-established programs. Similarities and differences in the components of these programs, which range from unmodified to specifically developed for ASD populations, are highlighted. In addition, the steps required to demonstrate well-established efficacy, and ultimately effectiveness, are discussed alongside other recommendations for refined future research.

Digital Health Interventions for Psychosocial Distress (Anxiety and Depression) in Cancer

2021 ◽  
pp. 543-549
Author(s):  
Lisa Beatty ◽  
Haryana Dhillon
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Psychosocial Distress ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Current Evidence Base

While therapist-administered psychological interventions for cancer-related distress are demonstrably effective, they have been limited by low uptake. Consequently, interest in digital health interventions for psychosocial distress in cancer has surged. This chapter outlines the current evidence base for digital health interventions for adults with cancer distress, covering (1) interventions that connect patients to one another, or to health care practitioners, and (2) patient online self-management. The chapter addresses the full treatment trajectory from diagnosis through survivorship, as well as advanced/palliative populations. While promising, this field faces notable limitations/challenges, and recommendations for future research and clinical translation are therefore discussed.

Intellectual disability and substance use/misuse: a narrative review

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Day ◽  
Alexandra Lampraki ◽  
Dean Ridings ◽  
Karen Currell
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Universal Language ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Offending Behaviour ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the literature on substance use/misuse within an intellectual disability (ID) population. The paper is focused on the prevalence, motivation and implications of substance use as well as the interventions for misuse. Design/methodology/approach – Research focused on substance use and ID (IQ of 70 or less with onset in the developmental period) were considered. Findings – The findings indicate a disparity between research findings regarding the prevalence of substance use/misuse within ID populations. Previous research indicates that individuals with ID may use/misuse substances as a form of relief or respite from negative experiences. Although there is a clear need for intervention, many of the ID population do not engage with generic interventions for substance misuse. Additionally, professionals responsible for the provision of interventions identify a lack of training and support to meet the needs of ID populations. Research limitations/implications – Minimal research in this areas, barriers to language and demographics being underreported. Practical implications – Highlights problems with the current evidence base and barriers this poses indicates a need for further research and intervention. Social implications – Implications for the equality for individuals with an ID and their access to appropriate intervention. Focus on prevention of offending behaviour and intervention as appose to management. Originality/value – In order to build a greater understanding of this issue, a shared universal language and definition of ID must be implemented. Further research to improve the understanding of why those with ID misuse substances is imperative before designing and implementing useful interventions.

The Oxford Handbook of Autism and Co-Occurring Psychiatric Conditions

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Evidence Based Treatment ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Adults With Asd

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often diagnosed, and treated for, co-occurring mental health disorders. Co-occurring problems are, in fact, a primary reason for referral and treatment-seeking. Research on comorbidity and its management in youth and adults with ASD has expanded at a rapid rate over the last decade. This is the first comprehensive volume on the topic of co-occurring psychiatric conditions and symptoms in ASD. In this Handbook, internationally recognized clinical scientists synthesize the research on assessment and evidence-based treatment for a broad range of conditions as they present in ASD, from childhood through adulthood. In addition to coverage of formal diagnoses that frequently present in ASD (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders), common behavioural concerns (e.g., psychosexual and sleep problems) are also addressed. Each chapter summarizes the condition or disorder as it presents in ASD, and presents the extant research on its prevalence, developmental course, etiology, and assessment and diagnosis in the context of ASD. Each chapter also includes a summary of evidence-based treatment approaches or current best practices for intervention, as well as a case example to demonstrate application. Chapters are also included to synthesize broader issues related to co-occurring psychiatric conditions in ASD, including a historical overview and conceptual framework for co-occurring conditions in ASD, crisis management, and psychopharmacology. In sum, this handbook is comprehensive compilation of the current evidence-base and recommendations for future research to inform clinical practice related to co-occurring psychiatric conditions and symptoms in ASD.

scholarly journals Group cognitive–behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Psychological Therapies ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Group Cbt

SummaryCognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) is a psychological treatment approach that can be delivered not only on a one-to-one basis but also to groups and in self-help formats. However, the evidence base supporting individual CBT is more extensive than the research regarding group CBT. This is likely to influence the choice of services that develop in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in primary care in England. This article outlines the different forms that group CBT takes, the way in which it may benefit people and the current evidence base supporting its use for anxiety and depression. It also outlines the advantages of group or individual CBT and describes those patients who appear to be best suited to a specific delivery.

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