Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case report
Abstract Background Diagnostic overshadowing can prevent the treatment of comfort eating in people with intellectual disabilities, and the published literature contains few therapeutic examples. This case study reports a relatively novel, promising, and accessible, remote cognitive behavioural inter...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00537-6 |
| _version_ | 1797935934819270656 |
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| author | Chris Millar Beth Greenhill |
| author_facet | Chris Millar Beth Greenhill |
| author_sort | Chris Millar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Diagnostic overshadowing can prevent the treatment of comfort eating in people with intellectual disabilities, and the published literature contains few therapeutic examples. This case study reports a relatively novel, promising, and accessible, remote cognitive behavioural intervention. Case presentation This case study documents a therapeutic intervention for comfort eating with a client, Sarah, in a National Health Service adult Community Learning Disabilities Service. Sarah is a white, British woman in her late thirties, with a diagnosis of Down syndrome who experienced significant problems with comfort eating and subsequent weight management. Despite dieting and exercising, Sarah was clinically obese and experienced weight related pain and psychological distress. Systemic intervention between Sarah, her mother, and the therapist formulated Sarah’s eating difficulties using a cognitive behavioural framework. This hypothesised how comfort-eating met her emotional needs and maintained her health difficulties. Remote cognitive behavioural therapy interventions included collaborative behavioural experiments, coping strategies, and homework tasks. Conclusions The Maslow Assessment of Needs Scale-Learning Disabilities, Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability, Glasgow Anxiety Scale for people with an Intellectual Disability, qualitative feedback from family, as well as frequency data showed significant improvement. Additionally, the case considers the evidence base, assessment, formulation and intervention, before reflecting on its various strengths and limitations. It reflects on the intersectionality of sexuality and intellectual disabilities, and the desire for romantic attachment, which was additionally complicated by the context of coronavirus and social isolation. The environmental influences on comfort eating regarding this case, and in general, the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities are also considered. The potential clinical impact of this case study includes exemplifying an effective comfort eating therapeutic intervention in an often overlooked client group. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:22:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0717033865dc4206909026e167ed3539 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:22:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-0717033865dc4206909026e167ed35392023-02-02T06:55:40ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742022-02-0110111110.1186/s40337-022-00537-6Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case reportChris Millar0Beth Greenhill1University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolAbstract Background Diagnostic overshadowing can prevent the treatment of comfort eating in people with intellectual disabilities, and the published literature contains few therapeutic examples. This case study reports a relatively novel, promising, and accessible, remote cognitive behavioural intervention. Case presentation This case study documents a therapeutic intervention for comfort eating with a client, Sarah, in a National Health Service adult Community Learning Disabilities Service. Sarah is a white, British woman in her late thirties, with a diagnosis of Down syndrome who experienced significant problems with comfort eating and subsequent weight management. Despite dieting and exercising, Sarah was clinically obese and experienced weight related pain and psychological distress. Systemic intervention between Sarah, her mother, and the therapist formulated Sarah’s eating difficulties using a cognitive behavioural framework. This hypothesised how comfort-eating met her emotional needs and maintained her health difficulties. Remote cognitive behavioural therapy interventions included collaborative behavioural experiments, coping strategies, and homework tasks. Conclusions The Maslow Assessment of Needs Scale-Learning Disabilities, Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability, Glasgow Anxiety Scale for people with an Intellectual Disability, qualitative feedback from family, as well as frequency data showed significant improvement. Additionally, the case considers the evidence base, assessment, formulation and intervention, before reflecting on its various strengths and limitations. It reflects on the intersectionality of sexuality and intellectual disabilities, and the desire for romantic attachment, which was additionally complicated by the context of coronavirus and social isolation. The environmental influences on comfort eating regarding this case, and in general, the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities are also considered. The potential clinical impact of this case study includes exemplifying an effective comfort eating therapeutic intervention in an often overlooked client group.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00537-6Comfort eatingIntellectual disabilitiesRemote workingClinical psychologyCBTDown syndrome |
| spellingShingle | Chris Millar Beth Greenhill Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case report Journal of Eating Disorders Comfort eating Intellectual disabilities Remote working Clinical psychology CBT Down syndrome |
| title | Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case report |
| title_full | Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case report |
| title_fullStr | Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case report |
| title_short | Adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities: Case report |
| title_sort | adapted remote cognitive behavioural therapy for comfort eating with a woman with intellectual disabilities case report |
| topic | Comfort eating Intellectual disabilities Remote working Clinical psychology CBT Down syndrome |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00537-6 |
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