The purpose of this brief review was to look at the conclusions of reviews published in the last ten years into the effectiveness of psychotherapy with people with learning disabilities.

The authors conclude that from the findings of those reviews, there is evidence that psychotherapy with people with learning disabilities can be moderately effective, in both child and adolescent and adult populations. They reviews found some evidence of effectiveness in a range of therapeutic interventions are for a spectrum of problems.

The authors conclude that the findings of their review provide support for the continued use of psychotherapy with people with learning disabilities, but they  urge some caution concerning their findings as psychotherapy with people with learning disabilities has not received a great deal of attention and the reviews included do not include a large number of methodologically rigorous studies.

They recommend further research, particularly randomised controlled trials with more specific outcome measures.

Psychotherapy with persons with intellectual disabilities: a review of effectiveness research, Thompson Prout H & , Browning B  in Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities5,5, 53-59