Therapies & Treatment

On this page, you will find information on therapies and treatments effective in supporting people with I/DD, brain injuries, or other cognitive disabilities and a mental health condition. Some therapies focus on conversation with a professional like CBT or DBT, while other therapies engage the body like psychodrama, breath-work, or EMDR. Individuals and supporters can explore resources on different treatment options to find which best fit an individual’s specific needs, communication methods, and cultural preferences.

Adaptive Strategies

• NASDDDS Adaptive Strategies Video Series— Videos featuring specific interventions and treatments highlighting modifications and adaptations for people with I/DD who can benefit from the same evidence-based interventions that are used for people without I/DD

Pharmacology

• Clinical Characteristics and Pharmacological Treatment of Individuals With and Without Intellectual Disability in Pre-trial Assessment-A Population-Based Study— Study that estimates the prevalence of intellectual disabilities in a pre-trial forensic psychiatric setting and the clinical characterization of individuals being subject to forensic psychiatric assessment (Edberg, Chen, Andiné, Larsson, and Hirvikoski, 2020)
• IDD Psychiatry Best Practices Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic Treatment of Persons With IDD and Co-Occurring Mental Illness and/or Behavioral Challenges— Handout from a presentation that outlines best practices in the use of pharmacological intervention for people with I/DD who have a co-occurring condition (Nisonger Institute at The Ohio State University, 2020)
• Integrated Mental Health Treatment Guidelines for Prescribers in IDD— Overview of integrated health and psychopharmacological guidelines in the treatment of people with I/DD and autism spectrum disorders (Institute on Disability at University of New Hampshire, 2023)

Positive Approaches

• Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of EMDR Therapy in Adults With PTSD and Mild Intellectual Disability or Borderline Intellectual Functioning and Mental Health Problems: A Multiple Baseline Study— Article showing that eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can be safe and effective in reducing PTSD and depressive symptoms in adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF) and severe mental health and psycho-social issues (Verhagen et al., 2023)
• Self-Management Interventions: A Treatment Summary— Article explaining how self-management interventions teach individuals, especially those with autism spectrum disorder, to independently manage their behaviors and environments to achieve personal goals and improve their quality of life (Marshall and Rohrer, 2023)
• The Transformative Potential of Expressive Arts Therapy— Article exploring how expressive arts therapy leverages creativity through various art forms to support emotional expression, personal growth, and healing, especially for those who struggle with verbal communication (Jahyu, 2023)
• Revisiting the Fourfold Positive Approaches Paradigm: Environment, Communication, Assessment, and Hanging in There— Review of the advancement in knowledge and treatment over the past 20 years for individuals with I/DD (Beth Barol, 2019)
• Learning From a Person’s Biography: An Introduction to the Biographical Timeline Process— Outline of the biographical timeline process that identifies events, passages, and interventions in a person’s life (Beth Barol, 2001)

Use of Technology in Therapeutic Interventions

• Telepsychiatry in Psychotherapy Practice— Paper that discusses practical solutions to challenges clinicians might encounter when moving a psychotherapy practice to telehealth, such as privacy issues, health information security, and developing/maintaining a therapeutic bond (Cowan, Johnson, and Close, 2020)