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Papers by Gary Byrne

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Telehealth Delivery of Group Parent-Led Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy During COVID-19: A Pilot Study

Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Sep 13, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to governments around the world imposing varying levels of restrict... more The COVID-19 pandemic has led to governments around the world imposing varying levels of restrictions and lockdowns leading to home confinement and closure of schools. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families may be particularly susceptible to increased anxiety. A growing evidence base has developed for parent-led cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for child anxiety disorders. The current pilot study aimed to evaluate the preliminary clinical utility (acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy) of a parent-led CBT program in Dublin, Ireland, through an online format. Parents of nine children completed the program. The child did not participate in any part of the online program. Acceptability was strong, and although technical issues were problematic at times, all families completed the program. Preliminary efficacy analysis is mixed, with significant reductions on youth anxiety as measured by clinician-administered questionnaire but no reduction in parent-report measures. Findings suggest that the online program is acceptance, feasible, and effective.

Research paper thumbnail of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anger, Irritability, and Aggression in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

The onset of childhood disruptive behaviors is one of the most common presenting difficulties to ... more The onset of childhood disruptive behaviors is one of the most common presenting difficulties to clinics worldwide. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has shown to be effective in the reduction of anger and aggression among adults, however to date there has been no systematic review that has examined the effectiveness of ACT in addressing anger and aggression among children, adolescents, and young adults. The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the methodological standing and effectiveness of the peer-reviewed literature of ACT on anger and aggression for this population. PsycINFO, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases were searched systematically in June 2022 to identify studies in English published on the use of ACT for anger and aggression in children, adolescents, and young adults. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria with a combined sample of 305 participants across the interventions. The most common outcome measures used were self-report ratings of anger among partici...

Research paper thumbnail of The use of acceptance and commitment therapy in managing psychological symptoms in paediatric functional non-epileptic attacks: A clinical report

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Nov 30, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of What can we Learn from the Experience of Non-Responders to a Parent-Only Intervention for Childhood Anxiety?

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Identifying and Describing Emotions": Measuring the Effectiveness of a Brief, Alexithymia-Specific, Intervention for a Sex Offender Population

Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment, Jan 23, 2014

Certain individuals who sexually offend may have difficulty differentiating, identifying, and art... more Certain individuals who sexually offend may have difficulty differentiating, identifying, and articulating emotions. These clients may prove challenging for therapists when engaging with them in treatment. Such clients may suffer from alexithymia. There has been a dearth of research regarding specific psychotherapeutic interventions for alexithymia in both the clinical and forensic fields. The present study provides results from a pilot study on the efficacy of a brief, four-session, alexithymia-specific intervention with adults who have sexually offended. The intervention also aimed to increase emotional awareness and psychological mindedness. The intervention was comprised of both mindfulness and mentalization treatment components. Thirty-two men (M age = 41.8 years, SD = 11.9) convicted of sexual offences completed the intervention group. When compared with a matched control condition (n = 27; M age = 39, SD = 10.8), the intervention was effective in decreasing alexithymia charac...

Research paper thumbnail of Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Conditions. A Pilot Study

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2022

This article reports on a pilot study of a parent-only cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) progra... more This article reports on a pilot study of a parent-only cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and anxiety difficulties. Twenty-one parents of anxious children with ASD (5–11 of age) completed the From Timid to Tiger intervention. Parent outcome measures were assessed at post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Analysis indicated significant reductions in both parent and clinician reports of child anxiety symptoms. Specifically, 38% of children were free of their primary diagnosis at treatment end and this increased to 57% when measured at 3-month follow-up. Positive gains were evidenced regarding parents’ ability to manage their child's anxiety without accommodating to it. The results provide preliminary evidence of parent-only CBT programs for children with ASD

Research paper thumbnail of An exploration of group cognitive analytic therapy for anxiety and depression

Psychology and psychotherapy, 2020

OBJECTIVES Cognitive analytic therapy has been shown to be an effective psychological treatment f... more OBJECTIVES Cognitive analytic therapy has been shown to be an effective psychological treatment for a range of differing presentations but little research to date has focused on the use of Group CAT (GCAT). The aim of this study was to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of GCAT for clients with mood and anxiety disorders in primary care. DESIGN This study utilized a mixed method design. METHOD A 12-session GCAT programme was developed covering key CAT concepts. The structure reflected the three phases of CAT - reformulation, recognition, and revision. Participants completed outcome measures pre- and post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Acceptability was reported using session attendance and participant feedback in addition to asking clients to rank the utility of CAT treatment components. A therapist interview was also completed. RESULTS Fifty-five per cent of clients completed the treatment, and feedback suggests that GCAT is an acceptable and...

Research paper thumbnail of The Use of Standard Parenting Management Training in Addressing Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder: A Pilot Study

Parent management training has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of child behavioural i... more Parent management training has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of child behavioural issues and associated conduct difficulties. Anger, aggression, and irritability are common symptoms amongst children presenting with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Currently, there are no well-established evidence-based interventions for children presenting with symptoms of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. This pilot study aims to assess if a standard, well-established, parent management training program (group Triple P) may be effective in addressing disruptive mood dysregulation disorder symptoms. Thirteen parents of children who presented with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder or subthreshold symptoms completed the Triple P behavioural management program (Level 4). Post-treatment, parents reported no significant change on childhood irritability. However, parents noted significant improvement on child overt aggression, behavioural difficulties and an increase in chi...

Research paper thumbnail of A Review of the Effectiveness and Mechanisms of Change for Three Psychological Interventions for Borderline Personality Disorder

Clinical Social Work Journal

The therapeutic nihilism common in much of the early literature on borderline personality disorde... more The therapeutic nihilism common in much of the early literature on borderline personality disorder (BPD) has given way to a growing research base with findings indicating the effectiveness of a number of psychological treatments. This article will review three major evidence-based treatments for BPD; dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), schema-focused therapy (SFT) and mentalization-based treatment (MBT). While not a panacea, these treatments have provided, to differing degrees, a reasonable level of evidence indicating therapeutic effectiveness. The evidence base for each of these models is discussed as well as possible mechanisms of change. The article highlights similarities between the differing modalities as well as the features that distinguish the models. The article contends that increasing mentalization skills may be a common underlying factor in all treatments for individual with BPD. The authors conclude by discussing the difficulties and potential benefits of treatment integration.

Research paper thumbnail of Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum conditions (ASC): A systematic review

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of a parent‐led cognitive behaviour therapy programme in routine clinical practice: A controlled trial

British Journal of Clinical Psychology

Research paper thumbnail of The use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in addressing family accommodation (FA) for child anxiety

The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist

Many parents of children with anxiety tend to engage in varying levels of family accommodation (F... more Many parents of children with anxiety tend to engage in varying levels of family accommodation (FA) in order to alleviate anxiety symptoms. This can exacerbate anxiety symptoms and have adverse effects for psychological treatments. A small number of general and specific interventions have been developed for FA but treatment research is at a nascent stage. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) may be an effective treatment for FA. This article reviews the potential advantages and uses of ACT and how ACT’s six core processes can help target particular features of FA. The theoretical support for ACT is reviewed relevant to FA. The article concludes by conjecturing how ACT may be a useful and adaptive treatment in targeting FA. Key learning aims (1) To understand how FA impacts on child anxiety. (2) To help provide an overview of how ACT may be a relevant treatment in addressing FA. (3) To look at how each of the six core processes may address specific components of FA.

Research paper thumbnail of A Systematic Review of Treatment Interventions for Individuals With Intellectual Disability and Trauma Symptoms: A Review of the Recent Literature

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are at increased susceptibility to adverse life ... more Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are at increased susceptibility to adverse life experiences and trauma sequelae. There is a disparate range of therapeutic interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated symptoms. This systematic review aimed to appraise the effectiveness of both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD and associated symptoms for both adults and children with mild, moderate, or severe intellectual delay. A systematic search, in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, of the PsychInfo, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and MEDLINE databases were performed, and all relevant articles published between 2010 and March 2020 were included. A total of 11 articles were included, eight that focused on EMDR and three on CBT. The methodological quality of many of these articles was generally weak. Tentative findings ...

Research paper thumbnail of The psychological impact of quarantine on children with autism spectrum disorder

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine

The psychological impact of quarantine on children with autism spectrum disorder Given the imposi... more The psychological impact of quarantine on children with autism spectrum disorder Given the imposition of unfamiliar health measures that infringe on personal freedoms, the closure of schools, the lack of contact from extended family members, and the exposure to COVID-19 related information from adults around them, it is perhaps not surprising that children are especially susceptible to psychological difficulties associated with the current pandemic (Danese et al., 2019). Arising from these unprecedented times, a range of practical and useful guidelines have been offered by others in helping parents provide honest and clear information about the virus and the inherent uncertainty about the local and global effects of this (Dalton et al., 2020).

Research paper thumbnail of On the spectrum, off the beaten path. A qualitative study of Irish parents’ experiences of raising a child with autism spectrum conditions

British Journal of Learning Disabilities

Research paper thumbnail of How the Good Lives Model Can Complement Mentalization-Based Treatments for Individuals Who Have Offended With Anti-Social Personality Disorder and General Forensic Mental Health Needs: Practice Update

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Limited research to date has focused on strengths-based rehabilitative approaches, such as the Go... more Limited research to date has focused on strengths-based rehabilitative approaches, such as the Good Lives Model (GLM) and the additive benefits such approaches have in ameliorating mental health needs of those in contact with forensic services. Mentalization-based therapies (MBTs) may be an effective treatment in forensic settings. This article aims to provide an overview of how GLM theory can integrate MBT within forensic settings. The review provides a conceptual overview of the many commonalities between GLM and MBT principles and provides information about how MBT can be embedded within forensic communities adhering to GLM principles. The article closes by offering an overview of the evidence of MBT approaches for individuals with anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) and those in contact with forensic services.

Research paper thumbnail of Mentalization-based treatments with children and families: A systematic review of the literature

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Objectives: Over the past decade, mentalization-based treatment (MBT) approaches have been develo... more Objectives: Over the past decade, mentalization-based treatment (MBT) approaches have been developed specifically for children, adolescents and families. This study provides a systematic review of MBT applicable to both children and families. Method: Five databases were searched to identify reports of MBT studies published up to February 2020. Studies were screened and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 34 studies were included in this review. Of these, 14 focused on parent–child dyads, two on child therapy, seven applied the approach to parenting, four evaluated the application of MBT to the school environment and seven focused on adolescent populations. Conclusion: Despite methodological shortcomings and heterogeneity in design, the existing literature does provide tentative support for the use of MBT approaches for these populations, specifically in increasing mentalizing/reflective functioning. Further controlled and methodologically rigorous studies ar...

Research paper thumbnail of A systematic review of the use of acceptance and commitment therapy in supporting parents

Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and psychological sequelae of sexual abuse among individuals with an intellectual disability: A review of the recent literature

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities

The impact of sexual abuse among those with an intellectual disability is an area in need of furt... more The impact of sexual abuse among those with an intellectual disability is an area in need of further research. The current article provides an in-depth narrative review of the sexual abuse literature relevant to individuals with an intellectual disability. The 29 articles included in this study focused on (a) the prevalence of sexual abuse, (b) the risk factors associated with this population, and (c) the psychological impact of abuse. The findings confirmed that children and adults with an intellectual disability are at a higher risk of sexual abuse than nondisabled peers. Research regarding risk factors is equivocal, with a range of possible factors indicated. Similarly, evidence suggests that there is no single diagnostic trajectory when dealing with the sequelae of sexual abuse among those with an intellectual disability. The article concludes by discussing recommendations for future research and development of policy around this area.

Research paper thumbnail of The application and adoption of four ‘third wave’ psychotherapies for mental health difficulties and aggression within correctional and forensic settings: A systematic review

Aggression and Violent Behavior

Abstract Objective The prisoner population have substantially higher mental health needs than tho... more Abstract Objective The prisoner population have substantially higher mental health needs than those reported in community samples. A number of third wave therapies have accrued varying levels of evidence in clinical and community samples for a range of psychological difficulties. Methods This review, using PRISMA guidelines, reviewed four third wave therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and their respective effectiveness in addressing psychological difficulties and aggression for those incarcerated in a number of forensic settings. Results A total of nine studies were included in the review, 8 studies for ACT, 1 for CFT and none for MCT or FAP. The study provides very tentative evidence for the use of ACT with addiction issues and anger/aggression with a prisoner population but that this is significantly tempered by methodological shortcomings and small sample sizes. Conclusions ACT shows some potential promise as a treatment with a prisoner population but the general lack of methodologically sound studies greatly limits any conclusions that can be made. At present other treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other third wave therapies, most notably, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) have accrued more evidence as a result of greater amount of research.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Telehealth Delivery of Group Parent-Led Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy During COVID-19: A Pilot Study

Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Sep 13, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to governments around the world imposing varying levels of restrict... more The COVID-19 pandemic has led to governments around the world imposing varying levels of restrictions and lockdowns leading to home confinement and closure of schools. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families may be particularly susceptible to increased anxiety. A growing evidence base has developed for parent-led cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for child anxiety disorders. The current pilot study aimed to evaluate the preliminary clinical utility (acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy) of a parent-led CBT program in Dublin, Ireland, through an online format. Parents of nine children completed the program. The child did not participate in any part of the online program. Acceptability was strong, and although technical issues were problematic at times, all families completed the program. Preliminary efficacy analysis is mixed, with significant reductions on youth anxiety as measured by clinician-administered questionnaire but no reduction in parent-report measures. Findings suggest that the online program is acceptance, feasible, and effective.

Research paper thumbnail of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anger, Irritability, and Aggression in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

The onset of childhood disruptive behaviors is one of the most common presenting difficulties to ... more The onset of childhood disruptive behaviors is one of the most common presenting difficulties to clinics worldwide. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has shown to be effective in the reduction of anger and aggression among adults, however to date there has been no systematic review that has examined the effectiveness of ACT in addressing anger and aggression among children, adolescents, and young adults. The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the methodological standing and effectiveness of the peer-reviewed literature of ACT on anger and aggression for this population. PsycINFO, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases were searched systematically in June 2022 to identify studies in English published on the use of ACT for anger and aggression in children, adolescents, and young adults. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria with a combined sample of 305 participants across the interventions. The most common outcome measures used were self-report ratings of anger among partici...

Research paper thumbnail of The use of acceptance and commitment therapy in managing psychological symptoms in paediatric functional non-epileptic attacks: A clinical report

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Nov 30, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of What can we Learn from the Experience of Non-Responders to a Parent-Only Intervention for Childhood Anxiety?

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Identifying and Describing Emotions": Measuring the Effectiveness of a Brief, Alexithymia-Specific, Intervention for a Sex Offender Population

Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment, Jan 23, 2014

Certain individuals who sexually offend may have difficulty differentiating, identifying, and art... more Certain individuals who sexually offend may have difficulty differentiating, identifying, and articulating emotions. These clients may prove challenging for therapists when engaging with them in treatment. Such clients may suffer from alexithymia. There has been a dearth of research regarding specific psychotherapeutic interventions for alexithymia in both the clinical and forensic fields. The present study provides results from a pilot study on the efficacy of a brief, four-session, alexithymia-specific intervention with adults who have sexually offended. The intervention also aimed to increase emotional awareness and psychological mindedness. The intervention was comprised of both mindfulness and mentalization treatment components. Thirty-two men (M age = 41.8 years, SD = 11.9) convicted of sexual offences completed the intervention group. When compared with a matched control condition (n = 27; M age = 39, SD = 10.8), the intervention was effective in decreasing alexithymia charac...

Research paper thumbnail of Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Conditions. A Pilot Study

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2022

This article reports on a pilot study of a parent-only cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) progra... more This article reports on a pilot study of a parent-only cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and anxiety difficulties. Twenty-one parents of anxious children with ASD (5–11 of age) completed the From Timid to Tiger intervention. Parent outcome measures were assessed at post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Analysis indicated significant reductions in both parent and clinician reports of child anxiety symptoms. Specifically, 38% of children were free of their primary diagnosis at treatment end and this increased to 57% when measured at 3-month follow-up. Positive gains were evidenced regarding parents’ ability to manage their child's anxiety without accommodating to it. The results provide preliminary evidence of parent-only CBT programs for children with ASD

Research paper thumbnail of An exploration of group cognitive analytic therapy for anxiety and depression

Psychology and psychotherapy, 2020

OBJECTIVES Cognitive analytic therapy has been shown to be an effective psychological treatment f... more OBJECTIVES Cognitive analytic therapy has been shown to be an effective psychological treatment for a range of differing presentations but little research to date has focused on the use of Group CAT (GCAT). The aim of this study was to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of GCAT for clients with mood and anxiety disorders in primary care. DESIGN This study utilized a mixed method design. METHOD A 12-session GCAT programme was developed covering key CAT concepts. The structure reflected the three phases of CAT - reformulation, recognition, and revision. Participants completed outcome measures pre- and post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Acceptability was reported using session attendance and participant feedback in addition to asking clients to rank the utility of CAT treatment components. A therapist interview was also completed. RESULTS Fifty-five per cent of clients completed the treatment, and feedback suggests that GCAT is an acceptable and...

Research paper thumbnail of The Use of Standard Parenting Management Training in Addressing Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder: A Pilot Study

Parent management training has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of child behavioural i... more Parent management training has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of child behavioural issues and associated conduct difficulties. Anger, aggression, and irritability are common symptoms amongst children presenting with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Currently, there are no well-established evidence-based interventions for children presenting with symptoms of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. This pilot study aims to assess if a standard, well-established, parent management training program (group Triple P) may be effective in addressing disruptive mood dysregulation disorder symptoms. Thirteen parents of children who presented with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder or subthreshold symptoms completed the Triple P behavioural management program (Level 4). Post-treatment, parents reported no significant change on childhood irritability. However, parents noted significant improvement on child overt aggression, behavioural difficulties and an increase in chi...

Research paper thumbnail of A Review of the Effectiveness and Mechanisms of Change for Three Psychological Interventions for Borderline Personality Disorder

Clinical Social Work Journal

The therapeutic nihilism common in much of the early literature on borderline personality disorde... more The therapeutic nihilism common in much of the early literature on borderline personality disorder (BPD) has given way to a growing research base with findings indicating the effectiveness of a number of psychological treatments. This article will review three major evidence-based treatments for BPD; dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), schema-focused therapy (SFT) and mentalization-based treatment (MBT). While not a panacea, these treatments have provided, to differing degrees, a reasonable level of evidence indicating therapeutic effectiveness. The evidence base for each of these models is discussed as well as possible mechanisms of change. The article highlights similarities between the differing modalities as well as the features that distinguish the models. The article contends that increasing mentalization skills may be a common underlying factor in all treatments for individual with BPD. The authors conclude by discussing the difficulties and potential benefits of treatment integration.

Research paper thumbnail of Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum conditions (ASC): A systematic review

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of a parent‐led cognitive behaviour therapy programme in routine clinical practice: A controlled trial

British Journal of Clinical Psychology

Research paper thumbnail of The use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in addressing family accommodation (FA) for child anxiety

The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist

Many parents of children with anxiety tend to engage in varying levels of family accommodation (F... more Many parents of children with anxiety tend to engage in varying levels of family accommodation (FA) in order to alleviate anxiety symptoms. This can exacerbate anxiety symptoms and have adverse effects for psychological treatments. A small number of general and specific interventions have been developed for FA but treatment research is at a nascent stage. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) may be an effective treatment for FA. This article reviews the potential advantages and uses of ACT and how ACT’s six core processes can help target particular features of FA. The theoretical support for ACT is reviewed relevant to FA. The article concludes by conjecturing how ACT may be a useful and adaptive treatment in targeting FA. Key learning aims (1) To understand how FA impacts on child anxiety. (2) To help provide an overview of how ACT may be a relevant treatment in addressing FA. (3) To look at how each of the six core processes may address specific components of FA.

Research paper thumbnail of A Systematic Review of Treatment Interventions for Individuals With Intellectual Disability and Trauma Symptoms: A Review of the Recent Literature

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are at increased susceptibility to adverse life ... more Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are at increased susceptibility to adverse life experiences and trauma sequelae. There is a disparate range of therapeutic interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated symptoms. This systematic review aimed to appraise the effectiveness of both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD and associated symptoms for both adults and children with mild, moderate, or severe intellectual delay. A systematic search, in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, of the PsychInfo, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and MEDLINE databases were performed, and all relevant articles published between 2010 and March 2020 were included. A total of 11 articles were included, eight that focused on EMDR and three on CBT. The methodological quality of many of these articles was generally weak. Tentative findings ...

Research paper thumbnail of The psychological impact of quarantine on children with autism spectrum disorder

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine

The psychological impact of quarantine on children with autism spectrum disorder Given the imposi... more The psychological impact of quarantine on children with autism spectrum disorder Given the imposition of unfamiliar health measures that infringe on personal freedoms, the closure of schools, the lack of contact from extended family members, and the exposure to COVID-19 related information from adults around them, it is perhaps not surprising that children are especially susceptible to psychological difficulties associated with the current pandemic (Danese et al., 2019). Arising from these unprecedented times, a range of practical and useful guidelines have been offered by others in helping parents provide honest and clear information about the virus and the inherent uncertainty about the local and global effects of this (Dalton et al., 2020).

Research paper thumbnail of On the spectrum, off the beaten path. A qualitative study of Irish parents’ experiences of raising a child with autism spectrum conditions

British Journal of Learning Disabilities

Research paper thumbnail of How the Good Lives Model Can Complement Mentalization-Based Treatments for Individuals Who Have Offended With Anti-Social Personality Disorder and General Forensic Mental Health Needs: Practice Update

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Limited research to date has focused on strengths-based rehabilitative approaches, such as the Go... more Limited research to date has focused on strengths-based rehabilitative approaches, such as the Good Lives Model (GLM) and the additive benefits such approaches have in ameliorating mental health needs of those in contact with forensic services. Mentalization-based therapies (MBTs) may be an effective treatment in forensic settings. This article aims to provide an overview of how GLM theory can integrate MBT within forensic settings. The review provides a conceptual overview of the many commonalities between GLM and MBT principles and provides information about how MBT can be embedded within forensic communities adhering to GLM principles. The article closes by offering an overview of the evidence of MBT approaches for individuals with anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) and those in contact with forensic services.

Research paper thumbnail of Mentalization-based treatments with children and families: A systematic review of the literature

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Objectives: Over the past decade, mentalization-based treatment (MBT) approaches have been develo... more Objectives: Over the past decade, mentalization-based treatment (MBT) approaches have been developed specifically for children, adolescents and families. This study provides a systematic review of MBT applicable to both children and families. Method: Five databases were searched to identify reports of MBT studies published up to February 2020. Studies were screened and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 34 studies were included in this review. Of these, 14 focused on parent–child dyads, two on child therapy, seven applied the approach to parenting, four evaluated the application of MBT to the school environment and seven focused on adolescent populations. Conclusion: Despite methodological shortcomings and heterogeneity in design, the existing literature does provide tentative support for the use of MBT approaches for these populations, specifically in increasing mentalizing/reflective functioning. Further controlled and methodologically rigorous studies ar...

Research paper thumbnail of A systematic review of the use of acceptance and commitment therapy in supporting parents

Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and psychological sequelae of sexual abuse among individuals with an intellectual disability: A review of the recent literature

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities

The impact of sexual abuse among those with an intellectual disability is an area in need of furt... more The impact of sexual abuse among those with an intellectual disability is an area in need of further research. The current article provides an in-depth narrative review of the sexual abuse literature relevant to individuals with an intellectual disability. The 29 articles included in this study focused on (a) the prevalence of sexual abuse, (b) the risk factors associated with this population, and (c) the psychological impact of abuse. The findings confirmed that children and adults with an intellectual disability are at a higher risk of sexual abuse than nondisabled peers. Research regarding risk factors is equivocal, with a range of possible factors indicated. Similarly, evidence suggests that there is no single diagnostic trajectory when dealing with the sequelae of sexual abuse among those with an intellectual disability. The article concludes by discussing recommendations for future research and development of policy around this area.

Research paper thumbnail of The application and adoption of four ‘third wave’ psychotherapies for mental health difficulties and aggression within correctional and forensic settings: A systematic review

Aggression and Violent Behavior

Abstract Objective The prisoner population have substantially higher mental health needs than tho... more Abstract Objective The prisoner population have substantially higher mental health needs than those reported in community samples. A number of third wave therapies have accrued varying levels of evidence in clinical and community samples for a range of psychological difficulties. Methods This review, using PRISMA guidelines, reviewed four third wave therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and their respective effectiveness in addressing psychological difficulties and aggression for those incarcerated in a number of forensic settings. Results A total of nine studies were included in the review, 8 studies for ACT, 1 for CFT and none for MCT or FAP. The study provides very tentative evidence for the use of ACT with addiction issues and anger/aggression with a prisoner population but that this is significantly tempered by methodological shortcomings and small sample sizes. Conclusions ACT shows some potential promise as a treatment with a prisoner population but the general lack of methodologically sound studies greatly limits any conclusions that can be made. At present other treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other third wave therapies, most notably, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) have accrued more evidence as a result of greater amount of research.