Trauma and its ensuing accommodations, including challenging behaviors, have been a growing consideration for practitioners working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Recognizing the importance of one’s client’s trauma history, practitioners are seeking effective methods of providing therapy to IDD clients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related diagnoses. In this exploratory study, using a multiple single case study design, six individuals with IDD and known trauma histories were treated with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). The researchers employed the standard EMDR protocol, adapting it when necessary to accommodate the needs of each participant. Outcomes provide preliminary evidence that EMDR may be an effective method of trauma treatment for clients with intellectual abilities, pointing to EMDR as a treatment with potential for facilitating healing from trauma with IDD clients.

Persons with developmental disabilities may benefit from a variety of interventions in the treatment of intrapsychic trauma after exposure to interpersonal violence and crime.

No abstract

Advanced practice registered nurses have an important role in addressing the sequelae of trauma by employing flexible, creative, and direct therapy with individuals. Additionally significant is provision of educational and supportive measures for the caregivers, who have the potential to generate an ongoing socially therapeutic environment.

No abstract