Successful Multi‐Disciplinary and Multi‐Treatment Working for a Person with Learning Disability who Experienced Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Janette1 is a young woman with both a mild intellectual disability and moderate physical disabilities who experienced a major depressive disorder at a stage in her life when many young adults leave home. This case study exemplifies the success of a multi‐disciplinary, multi‐agency and multi‐element intervention for severe depression in relation to the tasks of adolescence. The impact of a combination of treatments (including attendance at an assessment day unit, electro‐convulsive therapy (ECT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)) on Janette's mood has been assessed regularly using the Glasgow Depression Inventory ‐ Learning Disability (GDS‐LD) scale (Cuthill, 2003). There is currently very little literature on either using ECT with people with learning disabilities or assessing depression in this population. The multiple inputs, in Janette's case, have had the desired effect of greatly improving her mood, which has been sustained via outpatient follow‐up and tailoring of day and respite services.

Citation

Mackay, F. and Wilson, C. (2007), "Successful Multi‐Disciplinary and Multi‐Treatment Working for a Person with Learning Disability who Experienced Major Depressive Disorder", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 39-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/13595474200700023