Mindfulness-Integrated CBT (MiCBT) for Reducing Distress in Parents of Children with Intellectual Disability (ID): a Case Series

Raphaella Osborn¹, Mary Girgis¹, Stephanie Morse¹, Jovana Sladakovic¹, Ian Kneebone¹, Alice Shires¹, Seeta Durvasula², Lynette Roberts¹

1 Graduate School of Health University of Technology Sydney Ultimo Australia
2 University of Sydney Sydney Australia

Abstract

Caring fora child with an intellectual disability (ID) is associated with significantpsychological 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 acceptancefocus for these parents. Five participants were recruited and provided one toone MiCBT tailored to parental carers of children with ID. Four participantscompleted the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) pre-treatment andpost-treatment. Reliable change analysis was used to identify clinicallyreliable change. One participant dropped out after four sessions, fourcompleted eight of the available eight sessions. Two participants reportedreductions in depressive and stress symptoms, and one of these, additionallyreported a reduction in anxiety symptoms. All four participants who completed treatmentrated the treatment as acceptable. MiCBT shows promise as an intervention toassist parental carers of children with ID.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-018-9602-4
Published in Journal of Developmental & Physical Disabilities, May 2018
Publisher Name: Springer US
Print ISSN: 1056-263X
Online ISSN: 1573-3580