Compassionate Imagery for People With An Intellectual Disability
Condition: Intellectual Disability
MeSH terms: Intellectual Disability
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The current study aims to explore the adaptation of compassionate imagery for people with an
      intellectual disability who are experiencing mental health difficulties. It will explore
      whether participants are able to generate and use their own compassionate image, as well as
      exploring the participants' views of engaging in the workshop. It is an early exploratory
      study in what is hoped will be a longer process consisting of future feasibility and piloting
      work.

      Between 6-10 participants who are attending the National Health Service (NHS) NHS Lanarkshire
      Community Learning Disability Team and are experiencing mental health difficulties will be
      recruited. Participants will be asked to attend a two-session workshop through which they
      will be supported to develop and use their own compassionate image. The research questions
      will be answered by obtaining descriptive data from data recording sheets completed during
      the sessions and by interviewing participants about their experiences of the workshop.
    

Detailed description: 
      People with an intellectual disability experience widespread stigma, mistreatment and abuse
      (Scior and Werner, 2016, Gravell, 2012, Hughes et al., 2012, Jones et al., 2012). These are
      likely to lead individuals to experience shame and self-criticism, which can contribute to
      the development of mental health difficulties. Indeed, many people with an intellectual
      disability do experience mental health difficulties (Buckles et al., 2013).

      Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is a psychological therapy which aims to reduce shame and
      self-criticism by developing a person's ability to feel compassion. It involves enabling
      individuals to learn to soothe themselves when they feel distressed. Compassionate imagery is
      one CFT technique used to do this (Gilbert, 2009). This can involve developing a mental image
      of a compassionate person or animal who is wise, strong, warm and non-judgemental.

      The individual is encouraged to explore their experience of imagining this, which may include
      feeling a sense of safety, warmth and connectedness (Gilbert, 2015).

      The current study aims to explore the adaptation of compassionate imagery for people with an
      intellectual disability who are experiencing mental health difficulties. It will explore
      whether participants are able to generate and use their own compassionate image, as well as
      exploring the participants' views of engaging in the workshop. It is an early exploratory
      study in what is hoped will be a longer process consisting of future feasibility and piloting
      work.

      Between 6-10 participants who are attending the NHS Lanarkshire Community Learning Disability
      Team and are experiencing mental health difficulties will be recruited. Participants will be
      asked to attend a two-session workshop through which they will be supported to develop and
      use their own compassionate image. The research questions will be answered by obtaining
      descriptive data from data recording sheets completed during the sessions and by interviewing
      participants about their experiences of the workshop.
    

Intervention name(s): Compassionate image workshop
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants attend a workshop through which they will be supported to develop and use their own compassionate image.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: Participants who are attending the NHS Lanarkshire Community Learning Disability Team and are experiencing mental health difficulties will be recruited. Participants will be asked to attend a two-session workshop through which they will be supported to develop and use their own compassionate image. The research questions will be answered by obtaining descriptive data from data recording sheets completed during the sessions and by interviewing participants about their experiences of the workshop.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care