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Psychological Interventions and Psychotherapy

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Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Ageing Process

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Abstract

This chapter is about recent advances in psychotherapy and psychological intervention for adult and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Though systematic psychotherapy research is sparse with regard to the older segment of people with IDD, there are optimistic indications from research in younger cohorts with IDD showing the usefulness of psychological based interventions. Thus, the chapter offers an elaboration on the main characteristics affecting psychotherapeutic interventions in this population often limiting traditional practices. The overview outlines alternative approaches for such situations, with especial attention given to motivational issues in old age as well as to therapists’ attitudes and orientation. The following section refers to a trans-theoretical model for psychotherapy in old age and its adaptation and relevance for systematic research in the area of psychotherapy in older people with IDD. Upon this, the contribution addresses practical considerations for psychological interventions with specific attention given to institutional-based interventions, followed by options in the occurrence of severe limitation in communication. Next is a presentation of specific interventions in old age such as life-review therapy or interventions for persons with IDD and Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, advances in mental health promotion for the older population with IDD as well as the relevance of carers’ emotional well-being are outlined. The chapter concludes that psychotherapy shows to be moderately effective in older people with IDD, with however asking to close the gap in this research field with regard to the older population with IDD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, Institute for Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Germain Weber & Alina Streicher

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  1. Germain Weber
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  2. Alina Streicher
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Correspondence to Germain Weber .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Birmingham Community NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK

    Vee P. Prasher

  2. Emeritus of Pediatrics, Environmental Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Hilton Head, SC, USA

    Philip W. Davidson

  3. UCD Centre for Disability Studies, School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland

    Flavia H. Santos

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Weber, G., Streicher, A. (2021). Psychological Interventions and Psychotherapy. In: Prasher, V.P., Davidson, P.W., Santos, F.H. (eds) Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Ageing Process. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56934-1_11

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