Narrative Exposure Therapy for Adults With an Intellectual Disability

NCT06934109 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 24042
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 13
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this naturalistic single case series design is to investigate if an adapted Narrative Exposure Therapy protocol can be effective, is feasible, and acceptable for adults with a mile learning disability. Participants will be complete three baseline sessions before taking part in Narrative Exposure Therapy using a manual that has been adapted for people with a learning disability. Trauma symptoms will be measured weekly using the Impact of Events scale adapted for intellectual disabilities. The person's carer will also complete an informant scale related to these symptoms (LANTS-IV). The client will also complete the CORE-LD at pre, and post therapy. Six weeks after the end of the intervention, the client and their carer will be invited to a feedback session to talk about how they found the intervention.

Conditions

Intellectual Disability, Mild; Trauma, Psychological; Learning Disability; PTSD

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Impact of Events Scale for intellectual disabilities (IES-ID)

  The IES-ID (Hall et al., 2014) is a 22 item scale scored on a three-point Likert scale measuring trauma related symptoms. This is an adapted measure that has been validated for people with an intellectual disability.

  Completed weekly through baseline and intervention stages, approximately 16 weeks. Then at 6-week follow up (approximately week 22).

• Lancaster and Northgate Trauma Scale for Intellectual Disabilities - Informant Version (LANTS-IV; Wigham et al., 2011)

  47 scored on a six-point scale for frequency and three-point for severity.

  Completed weekly through baseline and intervention stages, approximately 16 weeks. Then at 6-week follow up (approximately week 22).

• Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation-Learning Disabilities (CORE-LD; Brooks et al., 2013)

  14 scored on a three-point Likert scale measuring psychological distress across four domains: well-being, symptoms, functioning, and risk

  At baseline week 1 and at 6-week follow-up (approximately week 22).

• Change interview (Elliott et al., 2001) with clients and carers

  A feedback session will be held with the client and their carer around 6-weeks after the therapy has come to an end. This will ask for feedback on how they found the intervention.

  6-weeks post-intervention. Sessions will be around 30-60 minutes.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Heart rate

  Weekly during the intervention sessions, for approximately 12-weeks.

• Post-session therapist reflections

  Across the intervention phase, an average of a year

Study Arms (1)

Narrative Exposure Therapy treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

All participants within the trial will receive narrative exposure therapy and be within the treatment arm.

Other: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

Interventions

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) OTHER

NET is a psychological talking therapy that has been designed for people who have experienced multiple and prolonged traumatic experiences. It is typically 12-sessions, involving first a psychoeducation session, then laying a lifeline where stones are lain to represent traumatic events, and flowers positive life events. The following sessions the person is asked to talk through their life, going into detail on the traumatic memories that they have experienced.

Narrative Exposure Therapy treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 and over
• Meet the criteria for having a mild ID as assessed by a clinical psychologist within the team
• English speaking
• Have capacity to consent
• The participant must be experiencing trauma related stress as assessed by themselves, the clinical psychologist and the research team
• Be able to travel to one of the therapy sites
• Carer participant must have ability to reflect and comment on the trauma related stress experienced by the client participant
• Carer must also be 18 years old or older and be English speaking.
• Carer must have known participant for 1 year or more.

You may not qualify if:

• They are substance dependent
• They are currently receiving another trauma-focused intervention
• Currently an inpatient
• Carers excluded if they lack capacity to consent to take part in research

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nottingham: lead

Study Sites (1)

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Nottingham, NG3 6AA, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Trauma; Learning Disabilities; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Intellectual Disability; Lymphoma, Follicular

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Communication Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Lymphoma; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Lymphatic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Immunoproliferative Disorders; Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• Thomas Schroder

  University of Nottingham

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2025
• First Posted: April 18, 2025
• Study Start: December 3, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2026
• Study Completion: March 31, 2026
• Last Updated: April 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-01

Locations

GB (1)