Hewitt, Olivia Mary, Langdon, Peter E., Hales, Susie A. and Larkin, Michael (2023) The phenomenology of mental imagery in people with intellectual disabilities. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 96 (1). pp. 25-39. doi:10.1111/papt.12424 ISSN 1476-0835.

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Abstract

Objectives: Mental imagery is important in the development and maintenance of psychological disorders and well- being but has been neglected in people with intellectual disabilities. A detailed idiographic analysis of the lived experience of mental imagery in this population is presented.
Design: This qualitative study uses interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). It involved inclusive research methods with people with intellectual disabilities and other stakeholders (including family members, advocates, support workers and intellectual disability service managers).
Methods: Ten individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with people with mild–moderate intellectual disabilities. Participants were opportunistically sampled through organisations providing community services to people with intellectual disabilities in the UK. Two men and eight women (mean age 43 years) participated. Interviews were audio-recorded and analysed using IPA.
Results: People with intellectual disabilities are able to experience a range of rich and detailed mental images across all sensory modalities. Participants reported changes in affect based on mental imagery, and an ability to experience both spontaneous and deliberate mental images. The emotional saliency of the object of mental imagery appeared to influence participants' ability to engage with imagery. A number of adaptations make mental imagery more accessible and easier to report. The ability of people with intellectual dis-abilities to experience vivid mental imagery has important clinical implications for the use of a range of mental imagery interventions with this population.
Conclusions: The need to consider mental imagery interventions for this population, and how these can be adapted to ensure accessibility is a priority for people with intellectual disabilities and psychological disorders

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Intellectual disability, Phenomenological psychology, People with mental disabilities, Imagery (Psychology), Phenomenology -- Research, Qualitative research
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychology and Psychotherapy
Publisher:	The British Psychological Society
ISSN:	1476-0835
Official Date:	March 2023
Dates:	Date Event March 2023 Published 26 August 2022 Available 11 August 2022 Accepted 28 March 2022 Submitted
Volume:	96
Number:	1
Number of Pages:	15
Page Range:	pp. 25-39
DOI:	10.1111/papt.12424
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit:	27 August 2022
Date of first compliant Open Access:	30 August 2022
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:	Project/Grant ID RIOXX Funder Name Funder ID NIHR300501 [NIHR] National Institute for Health Research http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272

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