The phenomenology of mental imagery in people with intellectual disabilities

Hewitt, Olivia Mary, Langdon, Peter E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7745-1825, Hales, Susie A. and Larkin, Michael (2023) The phenomenology of mental imagery in people with intellectual disabilities. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 96 (1). pp. 25-39. 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 disabilities 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:	Article
Additional Information:	Funding Information: OH is supported by an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Fellowship (NIHR300501). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The British Psychological Society.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	intellectual disability,interpretative phenomenological analysis,learning disability,mental imagery,phenomenology,qualitative,developmental and educational psychology,clinical psychology,arts and humanities (miscellaneous),psychiatry and mental health,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3204
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	10 Oct 2023 00:49
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2023 00:49
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/93211
DOI:	10.1111/papt.12424

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