Effectiveness of individual psychodynamic psychotherapy in disability psychotherapy

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report effectiveness of disability psychotherapy with a male adult with a mild intellectual disability presenting with complex emotional and behavioural problems. Design/methodology/approach – An individual case study was used with repeated analytic, quantitative and qualitative measures. This reported progress from individual weekly disability psychotherapy of psychodynamic orientation within an emotional disability framework. Findings – Disability psychotherapy led to a reduction in emotional and behavioural problems, reduction in emotional disability and facilitated protective psychological growth. In total, 88 sessions resulted in cessation of problem behaviours when other approaches did not. Given this therapy is likely to be reserved for the most complex and severe of cases, this study suggests more sessions of psychotherapy are needed than inferred from previous studies of effectiveness (Beail et al., 2007). This is to promote a sense of self which facilitates psychological well-being. Research limitations/implications – Limitations of a single case study include generalisability, controlling other factors in real life settings and subjectivity from inclusion of analytical measures. Further studies and follow-up would determine longevity of benefits. Nevertheless disability psychotherapy can be effective and should be available in a culturally appropriate service to meet the diverse needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Originality/value – This case study adds to the limited body of evidence on effectiveness of psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities. It is novel to report formal outcomes from an emotional disability model (Frankish, 2013a) and the use of analytic and attachment outcome measures.