title: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Adults with Mild Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of research on psychosocial treatments for depression in adults with intellectual disability (ID). In this pilot study, we explored the efficacy of a group CBT treatment that involved a caregiver component in adults with mild ID with a depressive disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen adults with mild ID and a depressive disorder participated in a 10-week group CBT treatment and 8 adults with mild ID with a depressive disorder served as a treatment as usual (TAU) control group. Adults with mild ID and caregivers completed measures of depressive symptoms, behavior problems, and social skills at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up. Adults with mild ID also completed a series of tasks to measure their understanding of the principles of cognitive therapy pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CBT group demonstrated significant decreases in depressive symptoms and behavior problems from pre-treatment to post-treatment and these effects were maintained at a 3-month follow-up. The CBT group demonstrated significant improvements in their ability to infer emotions and thoughts based on various situation-thought-emotion pairings from pre-treatment to post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that adults with mild ID with a depressive disorder benefitted from a group CBT treatment with a caregiver component. Moreover, adults with mild ID appeared to benefit, at least in part, from the cognitive therapy components of the treatment, in addition to the behavior therapy components.
authors.affiliation: Univeristy of Wisconsin, Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, 53705 United States.
authors.forename: Sigan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 3333 Burnet Ave, ML 4002, Cincinnati, 45229 United States.
authors.forename: Anna J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Esbensen
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School Psychology, Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shalev
authors.affiliation: university of Wisconsin-Madison, School Psychology, Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Lori B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center, Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Iulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mihaila
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center, Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Paige
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bussanich
keywords: CBT; depression; developmental disability; intellectual disability; mental health; psychosocial treatment