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

• 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)