Maria Truesdale

Dr Maria Truesdale

Lecturer in Learning Disabilities

M.Truesdale@napier.ac.uk

About me
Outputs
Post Grad

Biography

I am a learning disability lecturer in the School of Health and Social Care at Edinburgh Napier University. Prior to my current post I was a research fellow within the Institute of Nursing and Health Research at Ulster University. I have held research posts at Ulster since 2002 within the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. I completed my PhD in 2004 at Ulster and more recently in 2015 I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice becoming a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I have longstanding experience in working with vulnerable groups on sensitive issues in health related research across the lifespan in a number of areas including childhood obesity, breast cancer, ageing, diabetes and psychological trauma. In addition I have been involved in undertaking evaluations of specialist mental health and challenging behaviour units, early interventions for preschool children with autism and developing and delivering interventions for chronic illnesses and psychological trauma for this marginalised population.

School

School of Health and Social Care

Research Groups

Population and Public Health Research Group

Themes

Wellbeing

Research Areas

Learning disabilities

A rapid review of literature relating to support for people with intellectual disabilities and their family carers when the person has: behaviours that challenge and/or mental health problems; or they are advancing in age,

Slevin, E., Taggart, L., McConkey, R., Cousins, W., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Dowling, S. (2011). A rapid review of literature relating to support for people with intellectual disabilities and their family carers when the person has: behaviours that challenge and/or mental health problems; or they are advancing in age,. HSC Public Health Agency
Slevin, E., Taggart, L., McConkey, R., Cousins, W., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Dowling, S. (2011). A rapid review of literature relating to support for people with intellectual disabilities and their family carers when the person has: behaviours that challenge and/or mental health problems; or they are advancing in age,. HSC Public Health Agency

What services and support do people with Intellectual disabilities who display behaviours that challenge and their caregivers require to meet their needs? What services and su...

2011
Connecting With Autism Project.

McConkey, R., Milligan, V., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Poulton, B. (2007). Connecting With Autism Project. Institute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster
McConkey, R., Milligan, V., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Poulton, B. (2007). Connecting With Autism Project. Institute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster

No abstract available.

2007
Evaluation Report on the Western Area Support Project (WASP) on early intervention with families who have a child with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

McConkey, R., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Milligan, V. (2006). Evaluation Report on the Western Area Support Project (WASP) on early intervention with families who have a child with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Family Planning Association NI; Family Planning Association UK
McConkey, R., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Milligan, V. (2006). Evaluation Report on the Western Area Support Project (WASP) on early intervention with families who have a child with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Family Planning Association NI; Family Planning Association UK

The WASP Project is funded by the Children Fund and aims to develop a holistic approach to interventions with families in the Western Board1 area of Northern Ireland. This is ...

2006
Type 2 Diabetes education for adults with intellectual disabillities.

Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Taggart, L., Carey, M., Stacey, L., Madelia, P., Scott, J., …Northway, R. (2014). Type 2 Diabetes education for adults with intellectual disabillities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(4), 297-328. doi:10.1111/jar.12107
Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Taggart, L., Carey, M., Stacey, L., Madelia, P., Scott, J., …Northway, R. (2014). Type 2 Diabetes education for adults with intellectual disabillities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(4), 297-328. doi:10.1111/jar.12107

Aim: Our goal was to adapt a self-management type 2 diabetes educationprogramme developed for the non-disabled population (DESMOND) for usewith adults with intellectual disabi...

2014
A mixed methods, randomised controlled feasibility trial of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) plus Standard Care (SC) vs. SC alone for DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs

Karatzias, T., Brown, M., Taggart, L., Truesdale, M., Sirisena, C., Walley, R., …Paterson, D. (in press). A mixed methods, randomised controlled feasibility trial of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) plus Standard Care (SC) vs. SC alone for DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, doi:10.1111/jar.12570
Karatzias, T., Brown, M., Taggart, L., Truesdale, M., Sirisena, C., Walley, R., …Paterson, D. (in press). A mixed methods, randomised controlled feasibility trial of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) plus Standard Care (SC) vs. SC alone for DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, doi:10.1111/jar.12570

Objective: To report the results of the first randomised feasibility trial of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) plus Standard Care (SC) vs. SC alone for DSM...

2019
An evaluation of mainstream type 2 diabetes educational programmes in relation to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of the literature

Brown, M. J., Maine, A., Brown, M. .., Dickson, A., & Truesdale, M. (in press). An evaluation of mainstream type 2 diabetes educational programmes in relation to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, doi:10.1111/jar.12544
Brown, M. J., Maine, A., Brown, M. .., Dickson, A., & Truesdale, M. (in press). An evaluation of mainstream type 2 diabetes educational programmes in relation to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, doi:10.1111/jar.12544

Background Risk reduction and self‐management programs for type 2 diabetes (T2D) are commonplace. However, little is known about their appropriateness for people with intellec...

2018
Health Promotion and Wellness Initiatives Targeting Chronic Disease Prevention and Management for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Recent Advancements in Type 2 Diabetes

Taggart, L., Truesdale, M., Dunkley, A., House, A., & Russell, A. M. (2018). Health Promotion and Wellness Initiatives Targeting Chronic Disease Prevention and Management for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Recent Advancements in Type 2 Diabetes. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 5(3), 132-142. doi:10.1007/s40474-018-0142-5
Taggart, L., Truesdale, M., Dunkley, A., House, A., & Russell, A. M. (2018). Health Promotion and Wellness Initiatives Targeting Chronic Disease Prevention and Management for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Recent Advancements in Type 2 Diabetes. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 5(3), 132-142. doi:10.1007/s40474-018-0142-5

Purpose of Review The aim of this paper was to review the recent international developments in health promotion and wellness initiatives targeting chronic disease prevention a...

2018
Multiple traumatisation and subsequent psychopathology in people with intellectual disabilities and DSM‐5 PTSD: a preliminary study

Mason‐Roberts, S., Bradley, A., Karatzias, T., Brown, M., Paterson, D., Walley, R., …Sirisena, C. (2018). Multiple traumatisation and subsequent psychopathology in people with intellectual disabilities and DSM‐5 PTSD: a preliminary study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, doi:10.1111/jir.12505. ISSN 0964-2633
Mason‐Roberts, S., Bradley, A., Karatzias, T., Brown, M., Paterson, D., Walley, R., …Sirisena, C. (2018). Multiple traumatisation and subsequent psychopathology in people with intellectual disabilities and DSM‐5 PTSD: a preliminary study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, doi:10.1111/jir.12505. ISSN 0964-2633

Background: Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are at greater risk of exposure to traumatic life events compared to the non-ID population. Yet no study to date has ...

2018
The experience of type 2 diabetes self-management in adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers: A review of the literature using meta-aggregative synthesis and an appraisal of rigor

Maine, A., Brown, M., Dickson, A., & Truesdale, M. (in press). The experience of type 2 diabetes self-management in adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers: A review of the literature using meta-aggregative synthesis and an appraisal of rigor. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, doi:10.1177/1744629518774172
Maine, A., Brown, M., Dickson, A., & Truesdale, M. (in press). The experience of type 2 diabetes self-management in adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers: A review of the literature using meta-aggregative synthesis and an appraisal of rigor. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, doi:10.1177/1744629518774172

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience significant barriers to diabetes self-management (DSM), yet there remains a paucity of research within this population. A...

2018
An application of Bandura's ‘Four Sources of Self-Efficacy’ to the self-management of type 2 diabetes in people with intellectual disability: An inductive and deductive thematic analysis

Maine, A., Dickson, A., Truesdale, M., & Brown, M. (2017). An application of Bandura's ‘Four Sources of Self-Efficacy’ to the self-management of type 2 diabetes in people with intellectual disability: An inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 70, (75-84). doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2017.09.004. ISSN 0891-4222
Maine, A., Dickson, A., Truesdale, M., & Brown, M. (2017). An application of Bandura's ‘Four Sources of Self-Efficacy’ to the self-management of type 2 diabetes in people with intellectual disability: An inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 70, (75-84). doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2017.09.004. ISSN 0891-4222

Background: Little is known about the successful experiences and positive perceptions of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) self-managing Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). This ...

2017
Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative study exploring the perceptions and experiences of professionals in diabetes and intellectual disability services: Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities

Brown, M., Taggart, L., Karatzias, T., Truesdale, M., Walley, R., Northway, R., …Davies, M. (2017). Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative study exploring the perceptions and experiences of professionals in diabetes and intellectual disability services: Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61(5), (435-449). doi:10.1111/jir.12369. ISSN 0964-2633
Brown, M., Taggart, L., Karatzias, T., Truesdale, M., Walley, R., Northway, R., …Davies, M. (2017). Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative study exploring the perceptions and experiences of professionals in diabetes and intellectual disability services: Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61(5), (435-449). doi:10.1111/jir.12369. ISSN 0964-2633

Background: Globally diabetes is increasing with concerns about the impact on outcomes, including premature death and the costs associated with managing the condition. Researc...

2017
Diabetes in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

MacRae, S., Brown, M., Karatzias, T., Taggart, L., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Walley, R., …Davies, M. (2015). Diabetes in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 47, 352-374. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2015.10.003
MacRae, S., Brown, M., Karatzias, T., Taggart, L., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Walley, R., …Davies, M. (2015). Diabetes in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 47, 352-374. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2015.10.003

Objective To present an analysis of the evidence related to the prevalence of diabetes in people with intellectual disabilities (ID), their experiences of their condition and...

2015
A study protocol for a pilot randomised trial of a structured education programme for the self-management of Type 2 diabetes for adults with intellectual disabilities

Taggart, L., Coates, V., Clarke, M., Bunting, B., Davies, M., Carey, M., …Karatzias, T. (2015). A study protocol for a pilot randomised trial of a structured education programme for the self-management of Type 2 diabetes for adults with intellectual disabilities. Trials, 16, 148. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0644-y
Taggart, L., Coates, V., Clarke, M., Bunting, B., Davies, M., Carey, M., …Karatzias, T. (2015). A study protocol for a pilot randomised trial of a structured education programme for the self-management of Type 2 diabetes for adults with intellectual disabilities. Trials, 16, 148. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0644-y

Background: The need for structured education programmes for type 2 diabetes is a high priority for many governments around the world. One such national education programme in...

2015
Issues in caregiving for older people with intellectual disabilities and their ageing family carers: a review and commentary

Ryan, A., Taggart, L., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Slevin, E. (2014). Issues in caregiving for older people with intellectual disabilities and their ageing family carers: a review and commentary. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 9(3), 217-226. doi:10.1111/opn.12021
Ryan, A., Taggart, L., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Slevin, E. (2014). Issues in caregiving for older people with intellectual disabilities and their ageing family carers: a review and commentary. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 9(3), 217-226. doi:10.1111/opn.12021

Background In keeping with worldwide demographic changes and an ageing population, people with intellectual disabilities are living longer and all the evidence suggest that th...

2013
Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus in people with intellectual disabilities: Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus

Taggart, L., Coates, V., & Truesdale-Kennedy, M. (2013). Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus in people with intellectual disabilities: Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57(12), 1152-1163. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01633.x
Taggart, L., Coates, V., & Truesdale-Kennedy, M. (2013). Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus in people with intellectual disabilities: Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57(12), 1152-1163. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01633.x

Background People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at a higher risk of developing diabetes compared with the non‐intellectually disabled population, as a consequence of...

2012
Breast cancer knowledge among women with intellectual disabilities and their experiences of receiving breast mammography

Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Taggart, L., & McIlfatrick, S. (2011). Breast cancer knowledge among women with intellectual disabilities and their experiences of receiving breast mammography. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(6), 1294-1304. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05595.x
Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Taggart, L., & McIlfatrick, S. (2011). Breast cancer knowledge among women with intellectual disabilities and their experiences of receiving breast mammography. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(6), 1294-1304. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05595.x

Aim: This paper is a report of a descriptive study of understanding of breast cancer and experiences of breast mammography among women with an intellectual disability.Backgrou...

2011
People with learning disabilities admitted to an assessment and treatment unit: impact on challenging behaviours and mental health problems

SLEVIN, E., MCCONKEY, R., TRUESDALE-KENNEDY, M., & TAGGART, L. (2008). People with learning disabilities admitted to an assessment and treatment unit: impact on challenging behaviours and mental health problems. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15(7), 537-546. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2850.2008.01262.x
SLEVIN, E., MCCONKEY, R., TRUESDALE-KENNEDY, M., & TAGGART, L. (2008). People with learning disabilities admitted to an assessment and treatment unit: impact on challenging behaviours and mental health problems. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15(7), 537-546. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2850.2008.01262.x

This study describes the evaluation of an assessment and treatment unit for people with learning disabilities. Results showed the main reasons for admission for the 48 people ...

2008
Mothers’ Recollections of Early Features of Autism Spectrum Disorders

McConkey, R., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Cassidy, A. (2009). Mothers’ Recollections of Early Features of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 14(1), 31-36. doi:10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00495.x
McConkey, R., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., & Cassidy, A. (2009). Mothers’ Recollections of Early Features of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 14(1), 31-36. doi:10.1111/j.1475-3588.2008.00495.x

Background: Early intervention is recommended for autism spectrum disorders but often this is delayed because children have not received a formal diagnosis. Nonetheless parent...

2008
Preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders: the impact on families and the supports available to them

Cassidy, A., McConkey, R., Truesdale‐Kennedy, M., & Slevin, E. (2008). Preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders: the impact on families and the supports available to them. Early Child Development and Care, 178(2), 115-128. doi:10.1080/03004430701491721
Cassidy, A., McConkey, R., Truesdale‐Kennedy, M., & Slevin, E. (2008). Preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders: the impact on families and the supports available to them. Early Child Development and Care, 178(2), 115-128. doi:10.1080/03004430701491721

As more children are diagnosed at a younger age with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a new population of families is growing requiring services. Little is known about their c...

2008
An Evaluation of a Family-centred Support Service for Children with a Significant Learning Disability

Truesdale-Kennedy, M., McConkey, R., Ferguson, P., & Roberts, P. (2006). An Evaluation of a Family-centred Support Service for Children with a Significant Learning Disability. Child Care in Practice, 12(4), 377-390. doi:10.1080/13575270600863291
Truesdale-Kennedy, M., McConkey, R., Ferguson, P., & Roberts, P. (2006). An Evaluation of a Family-centred Support Service for Children with a Significant Learning Disability. Child Care in Practice, 12(4), 377-390. doi:10.1080/13575270600863291

Services for families caring for a child with a learning disability are changing to become more family-centred, focusing not only on the child’s needs but on those of the whol...

2006
A Study protocol for a pilot RCT of astructured education programme ( DESMOND-ID) for adults with intellectual disabilities and type 2 diabetes.

Taggart, L., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Carey, M., Stacey, L., Madelia, P., Scott, J., …Clarke, M. (2014). A Study protocol for a pilot RCT of astructured education programme ( DESMOND-ID) for adults with intellectual disabilities and type 2 diabetes. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(4), 297-328
Taggart, L., Truesdale-Kennedy, M., Carey, M., Stacey, L., Madelia, P., Scott, J., …Clarke, M. (2014). A Study protocol for a pilot RCT of astructured education programme ( DESMOND-ID) for adults with intellectual disabilities and type 2 diabetes. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(4), 297-328

Aim:We explored whether we could design an RCT to test if DESMOND-ID ismore effective than usual care in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) toreduce Hb1Ac.Method:The R...

2014

Current Post Grad projects

Previous Post Grad projects

Reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes in people with intellectual disabilities: A three phase study - Andrew Maine, Dr Maria Truesdale (Director Of Studies), Michael Brown, Adele Dickson, Prof Thanos Karatzias

Doctorate

2015 to 2018

Edinburgh Napier University

Maria Truesdale

Dr Maria Truesdale

Biography

A rapid review of literature relating to support for people with intellectual disabilities and their family carers when the person has: behaviours that challenge and/or mental health problems; or they are advancing in age,

Connecting With Autism Project.

Evaluation Report on the Western Area Support Project (WASP) on early intervention with families who have a child with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Type 2 Diabetes education for adults with intellectual disabillities.

A mixed methods, randomised controlled feasibility trial of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) plus Standard Care (SC) vs. SC alone for DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs

An evaluation of mainstream type 2 diabetes educational programmes in relation to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of the literature

Health Promotion and Wellness Initiatives Targeting Chronic Disease Prevention and Management for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Recent Advancements in Type 2 Diabetes

Multiple traumatisation and subsequent psychopathology in people with intellectual disabilities and DSM‐5 PTSD: a preliminary study

The experience of type 2 diabetes self-management in adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers: A review of the literature using meta-aggregative synthesis and an appraisal of rigor

An application of Bandura's ‘Four Sources of Self-Efficacy’ to the self-management of type 2 diabetes in people with intellectual disability: An inductive and deductive thematic analysis

Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative study exploring the perceptions and experiences of professionals in diabetes and intellectual disability services: Improving diabetes care for people with intellectual disabilities

Diabetes in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

A study protocol for a pilot randomised trial of a structured education programme for the self-management of Type 2 diabetes for adults with intellectual disabilities

Issues in caregiving for older people with intellectual disabilities and their ageing family carers: a review and commentary

Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus in people with intellectual disabilities: Management and quality indicators of diabetes mellitus

Breast cancer knowledge among women with intellectual disabilities and their experiences of receiving breast mammography

People with learning disabilities admitted to an assessment and treatment unit: impact on challenging behaviours and mental health problems

Mothers’ Recollections of Early Features of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders: the impact on families and the supports available to them

An Evaluation of a Family-centred Support Service for Children with a Significant Learning Disability

A Study protocol for a pilot RCT of astructured education programme ( DESMOND-ID) for adults with intellectual disabilities and type 2 diabetes.

Current Post Grad projects

Creating a community of practice to support breastfeeding - Lisa Marshall, Dr Sonya MacVicar, Prof Caroline Hollins-Martin, Dr Maria Truesdale

A feasability study of a Compassionate Mind Training programme for student nurses and midwives - Gavin Cullen, Prof Caroline Hollins-Martin, Dr Brian Williams, Dr Maria Truesdale

An experimental investigation of the relationship between complex post-traumatic stress symptoms (CPTSD) and treatment decision-making capacity in people with psychosis - Susan Lavin, Dr Paul Hutton, Prof Thanos Karatzias, Dr Maria Truesdale

Previous Post Grad projects

Reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes in people with intellectual disabilities: A three phase study - Andrew Maine, Dr Maria Truesdale (Director Of Studies), Michael Brown, Adele Dickson, Prof Thanos Karatzias