Edinburgh Napier University

  Background: Although, trauma and its sequelae is increasingly recognised as a major morbidity factor in people with intellectual disabilities, there has been a lack of inquiry into how health care professionals address trauma in adults with ID.
Aims: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of practitioners in specialist intellectual disability health services involved in the assessment and treatment of adults with intellectual disability regarding the current provision and the necessary developments to address trauma in adults with intellectual disabilities.
Methods: Twenty-five face-to-face and telephone qualitative interviews involving practitioners from specialist intellectual disability health services were conducted across 6 different geographical health service areas in the United Kingdom. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis.
Findings: Analysis of the data revealed seven central themes: (i) unmasked trauma; (ii) trauma informed care; (iii) person-centred care and support; (iv) multi-disciplinary working; (v) reasonable adjustments; (vi) barriers to treatment and (vii) awareness, training and education.
Conclusion and Implications: The study highlighted the need for trauma-informed care and multi-disciplinary working as key features for future service development. It also recognised the urgent need to develop an evidence-base for effective psychological interventions for PTSD in adults with ID in addition to the need for awareness, training and education of health care staff, in order to improve service provision amongst this population group.