Experiences with Take it Personal!+ from People with Mild Intellectual Disability or Borderline Intellectual...

Take it Personal!+ is a treatment program for individuals with Mild Intellectual Disability or Borderline Intellectual Functioning (MID-BIF) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). It is supported by a mobile health application (mHealth), and researchers found it can reduce Substance Use (SU). Aims: This study aimed to explore the usability of the treatment program in as experienced by clients and their confidants.

We conducted post-treatment, semi-structured interviews with clients (n = 8) and their confidants (n = 8). We coded transcripts according to thematic analysis and using inductive and deductive methods. Subsequently, we analyzed connections between the codes and grouped them into themes using axial coding.

Overall clients and confidants experienced the treatment program as usable, and most mentioned the program helped to reduce SU. The clients and confidants reported the presence of a confidant was helpful. Some clients and confidants reported the mHealth application was helpful. Components that were perceived as effective were self-control skills, daily registration exercise and discussing quantity of SU non-judgingly. Perceived impeding factors were video calling and a non-supportive network.

This study shows that Take it Personal!+ is an useable treatment program for individuals with MID-BIF and SUD, that helps to decrease their self-reported SU. Nevertheless, there is room for improvement for further adapting the treatment, which will be discussed.