Cognitive behavioural interventions with pupils with learning disabilities: an evaluation of the impact of the Feelings Detectives Programme on anxiety

Cognitive Behavioural Interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing the anxiety of typically developing children and adults with learning disabilities (LD). Research into the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural approaches to treat anxiety in children and young people (CYP) with LD is in its infancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a recently developed cognitive behavioural programme called Feelings Detectives on the anxiety of six 15-year-old pupils with LD, who attend a school for CYP with complex needs. This paper presents quantitative data from single case experiments and pre- and post- intervention measures of anxiety, as well as qualitative data from interviews with the participants and their teacher and teaching assistant. Reliable Change Index demonstrates a significant reduction in parent-reported anxiety for one participant and visual analyses indicate a significant decrease in self-reported measures of anxiety for two participants, all of whom being identified with a relatively high level of verbal reasoning ability. Key design limitations affecting the validity of these findings are discussed. This is a small-scale exploratory study which highlights potential ‘mechanisms’ which may have reduced the effect of the intervention, including methodological and procedural limitations. It also identifies positive aspects of the programme which might help to focus larger scale, more rigorously controlled research in the future