Is psychotherapy feasible in intellectual disability? An exploratory study on the effects of an integrated neuropsychological cognitive-behavioral therapy program for young adults with Fragile X Syndrome

Journal title QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA
Author/s Federica Alice Maria Montanaro, Chiara Caruso
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/56
Language Italian Pages 34 P. 26-59 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/qpc56-2025oa21770
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The present work offers insights into the application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in individuals with ID, presenting data collected from a sample of ten young adults from the Apulia region diagnosed with FXS. Specifically, the paper describes “Corp-Osa-
Mente” (CoM), a neuropsychological, integrated group CBT model. CoM combines in-person and online sessions and is conducted in close coordination with educational professionals, who serve as a bridge between the psychotherapeutic setting and daily life.
The study reports outcomes from a 12-month CoM program, during which quantitative pre- (T0) and post-intervention (T1) measures were collected. Data analyses revealed reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, along with improvements in socio-pragmatic and communication skills, adaptive functioning, and quality of life at the end of the intervention.
These findings demonstrate that psychotherapy in individuals with ID is feasible, as people with FXS, when adequately supported, are capable of accessing and reflecting on their own cognitive and emotional content. The CoM protocol is currently being replicated in other genetic conditions associated with ID, and the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) on group CBT for adolescents with FXS (NCT06677866) is currently underway.

Keywords: Fragile X Syndrome;Rare genetic syndromes;Cognitive-behavioral therapy;Intellectual disability;Mental health;Psychosocial treatment;Young adult

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Federica Alice Maria Montanaro, Chiara Caruso, La psicoterapia nella disabilità intellettiva è possibile? Uno studio esplorativo sugli effetti di un percorso di terapia cognitivo-comportamentale neuropsicologico integrata per giovani adulti con Sindrome X Fragile in "QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA" 56/2025, pp 26-59, DOI: 10.3280/qpc56-2025oa21770