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Background: Technology is ubiquitous in all aspects of daily life and research interest in the topic of digital mental health interventions (DMHI) for people with intellectual disabilities is growing. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated technology use in delivering mental health supports. Method: This review used a qualitative systematic literature review methodology with the aim of collating the views and experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities accessing DMHI. The electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and SCOPUS were searched in March 2022. Results: Five studies were selected in this review, and three major narrative themes were generated, each with sub-themes: (1) User experience with DMHI (personal experience, digital experience); (2) Relationships fostered through technology (interpersonal support, relating to virtual characters, computer as skilled helper); (3) Psychological benefits (new skills development, personal autonomy development). Conclusion: This review highlights that, although there is a diversity of views and experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, the evidence suggests that DMHI has potential to support this population given the right opportunities. Findings also point to the benefit of technology as a complement to therapy, but not necessarily as a replacement to in-person therapeutic encounters.

Background: Despite the increased risk for people with an intellectual disability developing dementia, post‐diagnostic psychosocial supports such as cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) are not routinely offered and there is limited research examining this intervention with people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of CST for older adults with intellectual disability to support active ageing. Methods: Five client participants attended a 14‐session CST group and four staff attended a focus group. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to investigate the client and staff narratives. Results: Three key themes were generated: (1) Brain Health, (2) Connecting with others, and (3) Barriers and Enablers. Conclusion: Findings indicated the suitability of CST as a way of supporting active ageing for older adults with intellectual disability. This study adds to the growing knowledge about service provision for older adults and their changing needs as they age and identifies clinical implications such as staff training to support intervention adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing international move away from the term 'mental age', the term continues to be used in some settings with adults with an intellectual disability. Arguably, the construct of 'mental age' conflicts with current rights‐based approaches yet its continued use suggests that it may have certain utilities. This study aimed to explore the use of the construct of mental age in the context of supporting adults with an intellectual disability in Ireland, and its perceived value and limitations in clinical practice. Forty‐three psychologists in Ireland responded to a 10‐item online survey using a mix of closed and open‐ended questions. Descriptive statistics were used and analysis was informed by reflexive thematic analysis. Twenty of the 43 respondents reported that mental age continues to be used in clinical practice. Analysis was informed by reflexive thematic analysis and identified five main themes: (1) negative connotations, (2) inconsistent with best practice, (3) supporting the person with an intellectual disability, (4) communicating about the person with intellectual disability and (5) moving on from mental age. The findings suggest that this construct is considered problematic and limited in its meaning and while there is a desire for change, there are challenges in finding an alternative method of communicating information about ability in a brief and easily understood way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This international multicenter randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) distraction with an identical non-VR game in reducing needle-related pain and anxiety in children undergoing venous blood draw. The study involved 304 children aged 5–9 years undergoing a blood draw procedure, randomly allocated to one of three groups: VR distraction, non-VR distraction, and control group (usual care). The distraction task was based on the Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) paradigm, and the game was identical in design and gameplay for both VR and non-VR distraction groups. The primary outcome was self-reported pain intensity using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R). Secondary outcomes included child distress, attention/distraction to the blood draw, and parent and medical staff satisfaction with procedure. Analyses were conducted using analysis of variance and multivariable linear regression models. The results showed that VR distraction and non-VR distraction performed similarly, showing large effect sizes compared with standard care. There was no significant difference between the two types of distraction. The study's findings suggest that VR and non-VR distraction are similarly effective in reducing needle-related pain and anxiety in children undergoing venous blood draw. This is the first well-powered study comparing modern VR distraction with an identical task displayed on a smartphone or monitor screen. The study's results have important implications for using VR in clinical settings and suggest that investing in expensive VR equipment for acute pain management may not be necessary. The study protocol was pre-registered on Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/frsyc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Psychological care is recognised as an integral part of quality diabetes care. We set out to describe the roles and competencies of the clinical psychologist as a member of the multidisciplinary adult diabetes care team, focused on secondary care. Methods: The authors are clinically experienced psychologists involved in adult diabetes care, from Australia, Europe and North America, and active members of the international psychosocial aspects of diabetes study group. Consensus was reached as a group on the roles and competencies of the clinical psychologist working in adult diabetes secondary care, building both on expert opinion and a selective review and discussion of the literature on psychological care in diabetes, clinical guidelines and competency frameworks. Results: The clinical psychologist fulfils multiple roles: (1) as a clinician (psychological assessment and therapy), (2) as advisor to the healthcare team (training, consulting), (3) as a communicator and promotor of person‐centred care initiatives and (4) as a researcher. Four competencies that are key to successfully fulfilling the above‐mentioned roles in a diabetes setting are as follows: (a) specialised knowledge, (b) teamwork and advice, (c) assessment, (d) psychotherapy (referred to as STAP framework). Conclusions: The roles and competencies of clinical psychologists working in diabetes extend beyond the requirements of most university and post‐graduate curricula. There is a need for a comprehensive, accredited specialist post‐graduate training for clinical psychologists working in diabetes care, building on the proposed STAP framework. This calls for a collaborative effort involving diabetes organisations, clinical psychology societies and diabetes psychology interest groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individual responses to behavioural weight loss interventions can vary significantly, and a better understanding of the factors associated with successful treatment might help to target interventions for those who will benefit the most. We sought to identify demographic and clinical characteristics that predicted intervention “success” (defined as ≥5% weight loss) and other health gains in patients with severe obesity attending a tenweek structured lifestyle modification programme. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of all 1122 patients (751 (66.9%) female, mean age 47.3 ± 11.9 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 46.7 ± 7.8 kgm-2) referred from our hospital-based obesity clinic, who started the structured lifestyle programme between 2012-2019. We compared routine clinical measures such as weight, fitness, blood pressure, lipids and HbA1c at baseline and follow-up. We also used validated questionnaires to quantify anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life. Results: Of 1122 patients who started, 877 (78.2%) completed the programme and attended for follow up. Of these, 12.8% lost ≥5% body weight. The amount of weight lost was a strong and consistent predictor of improvements in metabolic, cardiovascular, and mental health, even after adjusting for age, sex, programme attendance and baseline fitness. Older age, male sex, being physically active and having lower anxiety and depression scores at baseline predicted greater weight loss. Younger age, depression and longer wait time to start the intervention were associated with drop-out. Conclusions: In adults with severe obesity completing a structured lifestyle modification programme, older age and good mental health were associated with programme completion and attaining ≥5% weight loss. The magnitude of weight lost was a strong predictor of improvements in cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health associated with programme completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To date no research has examined the potential influence of acute stress symptoms (ASD) on subsequent development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in stroke survivors. Our objective was to examine whether acute stress symptoms measured 1–2 weeks post-stroke predicted the presence of post-traumatic stress symptoms measured 6–12 weeks later. Design: Prospective within-groups study. Methods: Fifty four participants who completed a measure of acute stress disorder at 1–2 weeks following stroke (time 1) and 31 of these participants completed a measure of posttraumatic stress disorder 6–12 weeks later (time 2). Participants also completed measures of stroke severity, functional impairment, cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, pre-morbid intelligence and pain across both time points. Results: Some 22% met the criteria for ASD at baseline and of those, 62.5% went on to meet the criteria for PTSD at follow-up. Meanwhile two of the seven participants (28.6%) who met the criteria for PTSD at Time 2, did not meet the ASD criteria at Time 1 (so that PTSD developed subsequently). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that the presence of acute stress symptoms at baseline was predictive of post-traumatic stress symptoms at follow-up (R2 =.26, p <.01). Less severe stroke was correlated with higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms at Time 2 (rho =.42, p <.01). Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of early assessment and identification of acute stress symptoms in stroke survivors as a risk factor for subsequent PTSD. Both ASD and PTSD were prevalent and the presence of both disorders should be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]