Osborn, R., Girgis, M., Morse, S. et al. J Dev Phys Disabil (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-018-9602-4
ABSTRACT
Caring for
a child with an intellectual disability (ID) is associated with significant
psychological distress. Interventions include cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT) and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Mindfulness-integrated CBT
(MiCBT) may offer a balance between CBT’s change focus and MBSR’s acceptance
focus for these parents. Five participants were recruited and provided one to
one MiCBT tailored to parental carers of children with ID. Four participants
completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) pre-treatment and
post-treatment. Reliable change analysis was used to identify clinically
reliable change. One participant dropped out after four sessions, four
completed eight of the available eight sessions. Two participants reported
reductions in depressive and stress symptoms, and one of these, additionally
reported a reduction in anxiety symptoms. All four participants who completed treatment
rated the treatment as acceptable. MiCBT shows promise as an intervention to
assist parental carers of children with ID.