Adapting Psychological Therapies for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review was to identify how psychotherapies have been adapted to suit the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. A comprehensive literature search garnered 39,777 studies, which were screened for eligibility. Systematic searches, following PRISMA guidelines, identified 122 studies that met eligibility criteria, and findings were synthesised using framework synthesis. Six overarching adaptation categories were identified: (1) multisensory methods, (2) activities, (3) communication, (4) delivery medium, (5) additional support and (6) structure. Adaptations were primarily used to increase engagement, promote retention of information and improve communication between clients and clinicians. While a group of adaptations that aimed to improve the acceptability and accessibility of psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities were identified, larger studies are required to understand their efficacy.