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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06934109

Narrative Exposure Therapy for Adults With an Intellectual Disability

The goal of this naturalistic single case series design is to investigate if an adapted Narrative Exposure Therapy protocol can be effective, is feasible, and acceptable for adults with a mile learning disability.

Participants will be complete three baseline sessions before taking part in Narrative Exposure Therapy using a manual that has been adapted for people with a learning disability. Trauma symptoms will be measured weekly using the Impact of Events scale adapted for intellectual disabilities. The person's carer will also complete an informant scale related to these symptoms (LANTS-IV). The client will also complete the CORE-LD at pre, and post therapy. Six weeks after the end of the intervention, the client and their carer will be invited to a feedback session to talk about how they found the intervention.

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Key information

Conditions

Trauma, Psychological Communication Disorders Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Immune System Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders Intellectual Disability Intellectual Disability, Mild Learning Disabilities Learning Disability Lymphatic Diseases Lymphoma Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoproliferative Disorders Mental Disorders Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations PTSD Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Psychological Trauma Signs and Symptoms Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Nottingham, NG3 6AA, United Kingdom

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 and over
  • Meet the criteria for having a mild ID as assessed by a clinical psychologist within the team
  • English speaking
  • Have capacity to consent
  • The participant must be experiencing trauma related stress as assessed by themselves, the clinical psychologist and the research team
  • Be able to travel to one of the therapy sites
  • Carer participant must have ability to reflect and comment on the trauma related stress experienced by the client participant
  • Carer must also be 18 years old or older and be English speaking.
  • Carer must have known participant for 1 year or more.

Exclusion criteria

  • They are substance dependent
  • They are currently receiving another trauma-focused intervention
  • Currently an inpatient
  • Carers excluded if they lack capacity to consent to take part in research

Treatment and study plan

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

Other

NET is a psychological talking therapy that has been designed for people who have experienced multiple and prolonged traumatic experiences. It is typically 12-sessions, involving first a psychoeducation session, then laying a lifeline where stones are lain to represent traumatic events, and flowers positive life events. The following sessions the person is asked to talk through their life, going into detail on the traumatic memories that they have experienced.

Primary outcomes

  1. Impact of Events Scale for intellectual disabilities (IES-ID)

    Time frame: Completed weekly through baseline and intervention stages, approximately 16 weeks. Then at 6-week follow up (approximately week 22).

    The IES-ID (Hall et al., 2014) is a 22 item scale scored on a three-point Likert scale measuring trauma related symptoms. This is an adapted measure that has been validated for people with an intellectual disability.

  2. Lancaster and Northgate Trauma Scale for Intellectual Disabilities - Informant Version (LANTS-IV; Wigham et al., 2011)

    Time frame: Completed weekly through baseline and intervention stages, approximately 16 weeks. Then at 6-week follow up (approximately week 22).

    47 scored on a six-point scale for frequency and three-point for severity.

  3. Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation-Learning Disabilities (CORE-LD; Brooks et al., 2013)

    Time frame: At baseline week 1 and at 6-week follow-up (approximately week 22).

    14 scored on a three-point Likert scale measuring psychological distress across four domains: well-being, symptoms, functioning, and risk

  4. Change interview (Elliott et al., 2001) with clients and carers

    Time frame: 6-weeks post-intervention. Sessions will be around 30-60 minutes.

    A feedback session will be held with the client and their carer around 6-weeks after the therapy has come to an end. This will ask for feedback on how they found the intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Heart rate

    Time frame: Weekly during the intervention sessions, for approximately 12-weeks.

    Heart rate will be taken using a fitness watch that can measure continuous heart rate. This will show whether any within and between session habituation has taken place. Subjective units of distress (Wolpe, 1969) will be used if clients do not wish to wear a heart rate device.

  2. Post-session therapist reflections

    Time frame: Across the intervention phase, an average of a year

    Therapist reflections will be collected to gather information about their thoughts relating to the manual and therapy.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nottingham

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Acceptability and Feasibility of an Adapted Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) Protocol for Individuals With an Intellectual Disability

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 18, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 29, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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