An exploratory study into the use of the five factor model of personality with individuals with intellectual disabilities

'It's one of the hardest jobs in the world': the experience and understanding of qualified nurses who work with individuals diagnosed with both learning disability and personality disorder

BACKGROUND

This study examines the experiences of qualified nurses working with individuals diagnosed with both intellectual disability and personality disorder (PD) in a medium-secure forensic intellectual disability setting. Potential training needs are highlighted, as well as other ways in which services could better support staff to work effectively with this client group.

METHOD

In-depth, semi-structured interviews were used to explore the nine participants' experiences; the narratives were analysed with interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).

RESULTS

Four master themes emerged from (i) disorder overriding disability; (ii) resilience; (iii) ambivalence towards label and (iv) knowledge.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight that for these participants, the clients' intellectual disability appeared to be lost under the complexity of the PD diagnosis. The clinical implications are discussed in terms of developing training, supervision and support.

Structure, fit and coherence of two circumplex assessments of personality in a population with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

Little research has been conducted investigating the way in which personality constructs relate to people with intellectual disabilities. The small amount of research that does exist suggests that underlying personality structure may be considerably different to that found in mainstream research. This hypothesis is, however, untested because so little work has been conducted with this population.

METHOD

Two circumplex models, the Interpersonal Adjective Scales and the CIRCLE, were employed to explore the factor structure, coherence and fit of these models with this population. One hundred and twenty-three participants from forensic intellectual disability services were rated by staff on the assessments, although not all assessments were completed for all participants.

RESULTS

The factor structures for both assessments conform broadly with a theoretical structure. Hypotheses concerning the magnitude and direction of Spearman's correlations both within and between assessments were generally confirmed.

CONCLUSION

While results would support the applicability of mainstream personality assessments to this client group, cautions were expressed in relation to the source of the sample and to the method of data collection.