Evidence–Based Practice and Intellectual Disabilities

Maladaptive behaviors and psychiatric disorders are common in individuals with intellectual disabilities. In clinical practice as well as in scientific literature much attention is given to the diagnosis, analysis and treatment of such disorders. Evidence–based practice (EBP) has become an important international movement in psychotherapy, and recent years have shown an increased focus on – and need for – the use of EBP in treatment in the field of intellectual disabilities. This is the first book dedicated to specifically addressing EBP in this area.   The authors review the current evidence base for behavioral and psychiatric disorders common in children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Treatment modalities are reviewed according to criteria for evidence based practice. In addition to this, clinical guidelines are given based on the strength of evidence of treatments for a given problematic behavioral topography or disorder. Evidence–Based Practice and Intellectual Disabilities will be highly relevant to a wide audience, including professionals working in community services, clinicians working in special education schools, residential facilities, and psychiatric hospitals, and parents and organizations involved in the care of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Peter Sturmey is Professor of Psychology at Queens College and the Graduate Center, City College of New York, and a visiting professor at The Department of Dentistry, University College London. He is an Associate Editor for Research in Developmental Disabilities and Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders . Professor Sturmey has published widely on developmental disabilities such as autism, clinical case formulation, staff and parent training, restrictive behavioral interventions, and behavior analytic approaches to psychopathology.   Robert Didden is Professor of Intellectual Disabilities, Learning and Behaviour at the Behavioral Science Institute and School of Education of the Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. He is a psychologist at Trajectum, a center for the treatment of clients with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities and behavioral and psychiatric disorders. Professor Didden is an associate editor for Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities.