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Background: This systematic review aimed to explore the effects of sport and physical activity on behaviour and emotional problems, mental health and psychosocial well-being of children and adolescents with intellectual disability. Method: Five databases were searched systematically (ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SportDISCUS and SCOPUS), up to 28 February 2021. Thirty-two studies met criteria for inclusion. Results: Studies in this review included case studies (n = 15), treatment trials (n = 14), cross sectional studies (n = 2) and a cohort study (n = 1). Evidence was positive, though high risk of bias in treatment trials (7 of 14 rated high) meant generalisability of results was limited. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests a positive relationship between physical activity and improved behaviour and emotional problems, mental health and psychosocial well-being; however, more robust randomised controlled trials are required to confirm this.

Background: This systematic review aimed to explore how adults with autism participate in the community, the impact of community participation on quality of life and mental health, and factors that support and hinder participation. Method: A systematic review was conducted including studies published from inception to 17 January 2021. Results: Sixty-three reports were included, reporting on 58 studies. Solitary activities, organised group activities, community activities, religious groups and online social participation were identified. The relationship between community participation and quality of life was examined. Barriers and facilitators to increased community participation were identified. Most studies had a moderate to high risk of bias. Conclusion: Adults with autism participate in a range of independent and community activities. The impact of community participation on quality of life and mental health warrants further exploration. Future studies should find effective ways of supporting adults with autism to participate in the community.

Inpatient psychiatric care may be required to manage adolescents with severe mental health problems. As the ward can be a challenging environment, this study explored the influence of clown doctors on adolescents. Seventy-seven adolescents (13–18 years) and 22 staff from the Monash Health Stepping Stones Adolescent Unit, and 11 clown doctors from The Humour Foundation participated in the study. Bespoke surveys were developed by the research team to collect quantitative self-report data and qualitative responses. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis suggested that adolescents experienced high levels of fun as well as positive mood during a clown doctor session. Clown doctor programs show promise within an inpatient unit with opportunities for further development being identified. With considerations of the findings, future clown doctor training could include tailoring sessions to the developmental needs of adolescents and developing strategies on how to interact with adolescents who have a mental health disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder face significant challenges entering the workforce; yet research in this area is limited and the issues are poorly understood. In this systematic review, empirical peer-reviewed studies on employment programmes, interventions and employment-related outcomes in individuals with autism spectrum disorder over 18 years with and without intellectual disability were identified and evaluated. The review was prefaced by a summary of previous systematic reviews in the area. Web of Science, Medline, PsychINFO, ERIC and Scopus databases were systematically searched through to October 2015. From 32,829 records identified in the initial search, 10 review and 50 empirical articles, comprising N = 58,134 individuals with autism spectrum disorder, were included in the review. Selected articles were organised into the following themes: employment experiences, employment as a primary outcome, development of workplace skills, non-employment-related outcomes, assessment instruments, employer-focused and economic impact. Empirical studies were limited by poor participant characterisation, small sample size and/or a lack of randomisation and use of appropriate controls. Poor conceptualisation and measurement of outcomes significantly limited study quality and interpretation. Future research will require a multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach to explore employment outcomes on the individual, the family system, co-workers and the employer, along with the impact of individual differences on outcome.

The contemporary attempts to tackle poverty and child poverty in the United Kingdom have been seriously hindered by the effects of the economic crisis (Hirsch, 2008a; Mooney, 2011). The prevailing discourses of the recession and intergenerational poverty can lead to a view that the effects of child poverty and the consequent detrimental impact on school education and future prospects for some young people are intractable (Sinclair & McKendrick, 2009). There can be insufficient emphasis on the successful attempts, however fragile, to intervene in the cycle of deprivation. This article reports on research conducted in two contrasting groups of secondary schools in the city of Glasgow, located in areas of deprivation, as they work to secure initial positive school leaver destinations for young people. This small-scale case study highlights the importance of a strong leadership vision committed to initial positive school leaver destinations, but complemented by distributed leadership and support from external partners to enable sustained successes. It also highlights the importance of individual attention to all young people to support and motivate them and the effectiveness of intervention at an early stage. (Contains 3 tables and 10 notes.)

Objectives: A great deal of attention is being directed at the use of seclusion in adolescent inpatient psychiatric units due to its forceful nature and negative impact on inpatients and staff. This mixed methods study aimed to explore and compare the level of satisfaction with the services received and perspectives on seclusion in secluded and non-secluded adolescent inpatients. Methods: This study included 188 participants, across three adolescent inpatient psychiatric units in Australia; 17% reported having experienced seclusion. A mixed methods approach was employed. Participants completed the Consumer Satisfaction Questionnaire–8 and Perceptions of Treatment and Seclusion Questionnaire shortly before or at discharge. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Secluded participants were more likely to report issues with broader care experiences on the Consumer Satisfaction Questionnaire–8. Secluded individuals reported ongoing negative effects from seclusion but were more likely than non-secluded participants to believe seclusion is necessary. Qualitative analyses showed that both secluded and non-secluded individuals considered seclusion to be traumatic, many did not agree with its use. Conclusions: Communication between inpatients and staff regarding seclusion needs to be improved and there needs to be ongoing support in relation to seclusion during and after discharge. Many adolescent inpatients acknowledge the necessity of seclusion whilst advocating for reduced seclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and young people with intellectual disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism) experience higher rates of mental health problems, including depression, than their typically developing peers. Although international guidelines suggest psychological therapies as first-line intervention for children and young people, there is limited evidence for psychological therapy for depression in children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism.Aims: To evaluate the current evidence base for psychological interventions for depression in children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism, and examine the experiences of children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism, their families and therapists, in receiving and delivering psychological treatment for depression.Method: Databases were searched up to 30 April 2020 using pre-defined search terms and criteria. Articles were independently screened and assessed for risk of bias. Data were synthesised and reported in a narrative review format.Results: A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four identified studies were clinical case reports and six were quasi-experimental or experimental studies. All studies were assessed as being of moderate or high risk of bias. Participants with intellectual disability were included in four studies. There was limited data on the experiences of young people, their families or therapists in receiving or delivering psychological treatment for depression.Conclusions: Well-designed, randomised controlled trials are critical to develop an evidence base for psychological treatment for young people with intellectual disability and/or autism with depression. Future research should evaluate the treatment experiences of young people, their families and therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literary criticism is presented of the novel "Hard Times," by Charles Dickens. The portrayal of the psychological aspects of architecture, including of interior spaces and home decoration, within the book is discussed. The relationship between mental health and interior decoration, including the psychological aspects of an English classroom's interior decoration, is also discussed.

Background: Few studies have explored community participation for autistic adults, with or without intellectual disability. This study aims to investigate how autistic adults participate in the community, and the childhood and adulthood factors that predict community participation in adulthood., Method: Eighty-four autistic adults (mean age 34 years; 67% with co-occurring intellectual disability) initially recruited as children and adolescents, participated in the current study. Community participation frequency and variety were measured in adulthood. Childhood and adulthood predictors of community participation were investigated., Results: Participants engaged in the community an average of 18.2 times (range 0-49) over the previous 30-day period, in an average of 6.3 different activities (range 0-13). Childhood and adulthood factors (autism symptoms, intellectual disability, living arrangements) were associated with community participation., Conclusion: Areas for additional support and resources were identified., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)