Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Cognitive behavioral therapy as treatment intervention for aggressive behaviors in clients with intellectual disabilities and concomitant mental health conditions

Authors

. Matthew A. Orim 1
. Samuel O. Orim
. Philip O. Adeleke
. Essien E. Essien 2
. James E. Olayi
. Cecilia K. Essien 3
. Oluseyi A. Dada
. James A. Ewa
. Vitalis U. Eke
. Innocent U. Igba
. Raymond O. Ogar
. Valentine J. Owan 4

1 Department of Special Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria

2 Department of Social Science Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria

3 Department of Continuing Education and Development Studies, University of Calabar, Nigeria,

4 Department of Educational Foundations, University of Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Few researchers have examined the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy
in treating aggressive behaviors among individuals with dual diagnosis (intellectual disability and
mental health conditions) due to the relatively recent interest in the field of psychopathology in
intellectual disability. This study investigated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in
treating aggressive behaviors among clients with dual diagnoses in a community rehabilitation
center, Ibadan, Oyo state, and the moderating effects of parenting style and socioeconomic status
in the associations.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: A 2 × 2 × 2 pre‑test post‑test factorial design was used. Parenting style
and socioeconomic status at two levels each moderated the associations. A sample of 22 participants
purposively selected was exposed to treatment using cognitive behavioral therapy, while the other
five were exposed to placebo treatment all for 8 weeks. Data collected were analyzed using Line
Chart and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).
RESULTS: Improvements were found in the post‑treatment scores obtained on the Aggressive Scale
for Youths. A reduction in the Aggressive Incidents chart was recorded for each participant in the
treatment group when compared with the control group, using a line chart and Analysis of Covariance
(ANCOVA). Evidence also demonstrated that parenting style (authoritarian and authoritative), F (1,14)
= 0.75, P <.05, η2 =0.05), and socioeconomic status (high and low), F (1,14) = 0.01, P =0.020, η2
=.00), moderated the associations.
CONCLUSION: Cognitive behavioral therapy is seen as a treatment intervention for individuals with
intellectual disability co‑existing with mental health manifesting aggressive behaviors in the community
or other settings. This should be used to improve the client’s quality of life under these conditions.

Keywords

Aggression
cognitive dysfunction
mental deficiency
mental health
therapy
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 11
December 2022
Pages 1-8

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