Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for children and adolescents with intellectual disability and anxiety: a therapist manual

Abstract

Abstract Up to 50% of children with intellectual disability (ID) have a comorbid mental illness, yet to date, there has been a lack of evidence-based treatments for this population. This paper discusses the development and application of the Fearless Me! © treatment program, a multimodal Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) intervention for children with mild to moderate ID and anxiety. The program development involved a review of the literature to identify the neuropsychological deficits present for children with ID and suggested ways in which therapy could be adapted for their needs. This was followed by gathering feedback from parents and mental health practitioners. From this, the Fearless Me! © program was developed, involving face-to-face sessions and an online component to support the practice of CBT skills. The program has been trialed among children and adolescents with ID, and shows promise in reducing anxiety in children with mild to moderate ID.