People with Learning Disabilities: Perceptions of the IAPT Programme
Research type
Research Study
Full title
People with Learning Disabilities: Perceptions of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme
IRAS ID
147308
Contact name
Glynis Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Kent
Research summary
People with learning disabilities (also known as intellectual disabilities) which is defined as those with both an IQ of below 70 and adaptive behaviour deficits identified in the developmental period, are particularly at risk of also suffering mental health problems with rates comparable or even higher than the general population.
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme introduced by the NHS in 2009 has made great steps in providing evidence-based talking therapies more accessible to those seeking help in dealing with anxiety and depression.
Although good practice guides within the Improving access to Psychological therapies programme offer information and guidance on the provision of talking therapies to people with learning disabilities it is still unclear if the programme actually benefits people with learning disabilities. It is also unclear whether the reasonable adjustments suggested in the good practice guide are enough to make the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme accessible to people with learning disabilities.
This project aims to gather information on the perceptions and experiences of people with learning disabilities about talking therapies and the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, giving them a voice so that we may better understand whether they feel therapy helped, what was good about it, what was not so good about it and how it may have been delivered better so that they felt they could better cope with anxiety or depression.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0412
Date of REC Opinion
25 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion