Co-design and development of a multi-component anxiety management programme for people with an intellectual disability
Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
ISSN: 2044-1282
Article publication date: 13 January 2023
Issue publication date: 15 February 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the lived experience of people with intellectual disability of their anxiety and of being co-design partners in developing a multi-component approach to the management of anxiety.
Design/methodology/approach
The development of an anxiety manual and programme was part of a service development which allowed existing and established psychological therapies to be adapted for people with intellectual disability. A qualitative approach was used to better understand the views of people who experienced anxiety on a daily basis. The feedback generated was used to make modifications to the manuals and the anxiety management programme.
Findings
The study has demonstrated the value of involving people with intellectual disability in the co-production of an anxiety management programme. Additional findings identified the real-life challenges and experiences of the impact anxiety has on people’s lives.
Originality/value
To our knowledge, this is the first study to involve people with intellectual disability in developing an anxiety management programme as co-production partners. This paper underlines the value of understanding and involving people as co-production partners in developing clinical interventions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Ethical Information: The study was approved through the Trust’s research ethics approval process. The data was extracted and anonymised from the standard electronic patient record system used in routine clinical care. According to the Health Research Authority algorithm (see http://www.hra-decisiontools.org.uk/research/), this study was not defined as research and therefore did not require submission to the Integrated Research Application System.
The authors thank the co-production partners for their valuable feedback in developing the programme. Additionally, the authors thank Clinical Psychologists Drs Ceri Woodrow and Jonathan Williams for their support in the adaptation process.
Citation
Acton, D.J., Waites, R., Jaydeokar, S. and Jones, S. (2023), "Co-design and development of a multi-component anxiety management programme for people with an intellectual disability", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 26-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-04-2022-0017
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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