Using questions in cognitive therapy with people with intellectual disabilities

Dagnan, David John and Pulford, Helen and Cathers, Rebecca and Jahoda, Andrew (2016) Using questions in cognitive therapy with people with intellectual disabilities. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 44 (4). pp. 499-503. ISSN 1352-4658

Abstract

Background: There is increasing interest in the provision of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to people with intellectual disabilities. A small number of studies have begun to address therapy process issues. Aims: The aim of this paper is to contribute to process research through the development of a taxonomy of question types for use in analysing therapy interactions in CBT for people with intellectual disabilities. Method: A taxonomy of CBT question types was adapted and applied to the transcriptions of session 4 and 9 of 15 CBT therapy dyads. Results: The taxonomy was reliably applied to the data. Therapists used significantly more questions in session 4 than in session 9, therapists used fewer questions in the final quarter of all sessions, and therapists used more questions with people with higher IQ scores in session 4 but not in session 9. Conclusions: The taxonomy of questions is reliable and may be used in future studies of CBT therapy process with people with intellectual disabilities.