ABMT with adults with intellectual disabilities
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Attentional Bias Modification Training as a Treatment for Depression and Low mood with Adults who have Intellectual Disabilities: A Concurrent Multiple Baseline Single Case Experimental Design.
IRAS ID
370565
Contact name
Andrew Poku
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS Health and Care Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Historically, clinicians have been reluctant to offer psychological therapy to people with intellectual disabilities, due to beliefs that this group were unable to benefit from conventional psychotherapy. However, a multitude of studies have challenged this assumption, demonstrating that therapy can be helpful if appropriately adapted.
A potential intervention for people with intellectual disabilities experiencing depression and low mood is Attentional Bias Modification Training (ABMT) (Hsu et al., 2022). However, research on ABMT with this population is limited, with only one study completed with adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning (Klein et al., 2018). While promising, a key limitation was the use of reading and writing tasks, which many individuals with intellectual disabilities find challenging. The present study therefore utilises a visual paradigm to deliver ABMT, which may be more accessible for adults with intellectual disabilities.
This study aims to determine whether ABMT is associated with reductions in depression and low mood in adults with intellectual disabilities. A concurrent single-case experimental design (ABA) will be employed with four participants, each undergoing varied baseline durations of three, four, five, and six weeks respectively. Following their baseline phase, participants will receive eight sessions of ABMT delivered twice weekly over four weeks, each consisting of three blocks of 40 trials (approximately 20–30 minutes). Each participant will then undergo a return-to-baseline phase mirroring their initial baseline duration. Anticipated outcomes include reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, and reduced negative attentional bias. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted to obtain feedback regarding intervention and study process acceptability, as well as adaptations for improved engagement and delivery.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
26/WS/0093
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion