A systematic review of cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in adults with intellectual disabilities

Anxiety disorders have high prevalence in people with intellectual disabilities. In populations without intellectual disabilities, cognitive behavioural therapy is a first line psychological therapy for these presentations. There is no existing review of the range of methods and outcomes from intervention studies in this area.

A systematic review was carried out following guidance in the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions.

Nineteen studies were identified. The majority of reports were descriptive case studies; the most frequently described presentations were non-specific anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder; the most frequently described cognitive techniques were psycho-education and interventions directly aimed at thoughts and beliefs and most studies reported positive outcomes, although the better controlled studies tended to report less comprehensive impacts.

A range of presentations have been described although the area is still at a primarily descriptive stage. We discuss intervention structures and approaches that require further research.