2024/07/02 by Burkard, Carolin, de Witte, Martina, Prick, Anna-Eva
#Delphi method #MID #Medicine and health #PTSD #art therapy #creative arts therapies #focus group #mild intellectual disability #single case #trauma
paper · doi:10.3205/jat000038
Background and purpose: During the period 2002–2018, there was a steady increase of the diagnosis post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the Netherlands. Research shows that people with mild intellectual disability (MID) are significantly more often diagnosed with PTSD. This comorbidity is related to challenges in coping, cognitive and adaptive skills which in turn may increase the risk of PTSD. The treatment protocol “Trauma-focused art therapy for adults with PTSD” developed by Schouten and colleagues (Schouten et al. 2018) shows that it has potential for treating PTSD in adults with MID. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative practice-based research was to investigate the extent to which this protocol-based treatment matches the abilities and needs of adults with MID. Method: Data was collected with multiple methods: from questionnaires (Delphi method), a focus group and from a single case study. The content was analyzed from the perspective of the client, the coordinating supervisor, and twelve professionals about the applicability of the Trauma-focused art therapy treatment protocol for adults with MID and PTSD. Results: Seven recommendations for applying the protocol in adults with MID and PTSD were derived from the thematic analysis. These recommendations focus on personalized treatment, network-oriented work, adjusting the diagnostics, (contra)indications and therapist attitude, as well as modifying the sessions and the work formats. Conclusion: The recommendations are consistent with national and international guidelines for trauma-focused interventions. The trauma-focused art therapy protocol therefore matches the needs of and can be applied to adults with MID and PTSD in clinical practice.