Intellectual disability and computers in therapy: Views of service users and clinical psychologists
Open accessAbstract
Digital media have increased the accessibility of psychological therapies for the general population, but not for people with intellectual disability (ID), despite their greater mental health needs. This study explores and compares the views of service users and clinicians on how computers can be integrated in psychological therapies for people with ID who are traditionally under-represented in mainstream services. We conducted in-depth unstructured interviews with three clinicians who had experience of working with people with ID and with three adults with ID who have experienced computerised training in cognitive behaviour therapy skills. The interviews explored the a) potential functions and benefits, b) anticipated challenges and barriers, and c) required design features of computers in therapy for people with ID. We used inductive coding to identify independent themes in the responses of clinicians and service users, and then compared the emerging themes between the two sets of participants to arrive at common themes. Six common themes emerged from service user and clinician responses: confidentiality of personal information and online applications, barriers in the communication with the therapist, value of therapist and personal contact, access to computer technologies, engagement potential of computer programmes and home practice. Three further themes were specific to clinician responses: patient suitability for computerised approaches, clinician distrust of computerised interventions, and involving a third party. Computer technologies open up possibilities for psychological therapy with people with ID by helping them overcome in-session communication difficulties and practise skills at home. On-screen pictures, interactive games, symbols, sign language and touch-screen are key design features to help engagement. The main challenges are clinician-reported difficulties in their own capacity and capability to access and use computers and in fitting computers into their own defined roles.
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In 5 studies, concerns about confidentiality formed a barrier to engagement.
“Participants in 5 studies expressed that concerns about confidentiality formed a barrier to engagement [51,104,127,236,237].”
From Barriers to and facilitators of user engagement with digital mental health interventions: Systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as [237]
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“As seen in Multimedia Appendix 2, the 208 articles included in this review [27-237] reported on 2 types of user studies: (1) 69 studies were needs assessments that aimed to understand user needs and attitudes toward DMHIs without or before engaging with a specific intervention as part of a study and (2) 135 studies we…”
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- Authors
- Vereenooghe, L., Gega, L., & Langdon, P. E.
- Affiliations
- University of East Anglia (GB)
- University of York (GB)
- University of Kent (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Vereenooghe, Leen
- Venue
- Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
- Publisher
- Masaryk University Press
- Published
- 2017-05-31
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 1802-7962 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2589129339
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 4.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
- UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- PUB – Publications at Bielefeld University (Bielefeld University) (submittedVersion)
- Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld (Universität Bielefeld) (submittedVersion)
- Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (PDF-2011-04-040)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Keywords
- intellectual disability, cognitive behavioral therapy, service user perspectives, clinician perspectives, digital mental health, patient-therapist communication, confidentiality, home practice, underrepresented groups
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