This thesis focuses on improving the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of PTSD in adults with mild intellectual disability. A new Trauma Screener – LVB (TS-LVB) has been developed and investigated. The TS-LVB has proven to be a reliable and valid tool for identifying PTSD in adults with a mild intellectual disability. In addition, the diagnostic interview ‘Trauma and Stressors for Adults with a Mild Intellectual Disability’ (DITS-LVB) demonstrates good psychometric properties and can be reliably used to diagnose PTSD. The effectiveness of short-term intensive EMDR therapy has also been investigated in adults with mild intellectual disability, PTSD and severe behavioural problems. This treatment appears to be safe and leads to a reduction in PTSD symptoms, with a large proportion of participants no longer meeting the criteria for PTSD after treatment. Additionally, research has been conducted into how adults with mild intellectual disabilities experience this treatment. They describe the treatment as intensive but helpful, with the continuity of the programme and working with multiple therapists being perceived as supportive.
Anne Versluis studied pedagogy (2001–2005) at the Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden and special education (2007–2009) at VU University Amsterdam. After graduating, she worked at organisations including Heideheuvel, GGZ Centraal and OPDC Het Lumeijn. Since 2012, she has been working at ’s Heeren Loo in Ermelo, where she was a lead practitioner for people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour until 2020. During this period, she trained as a healthcare psychologist and specialised in EMDR therapy; she has been a registered VEN® EMDR therapist since 2020. In 2020, she began her PhD research at the Behavioural Science Institute of Radboud University, focusing on the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of PTSD in people with mild intellectual disabilities. She is currently working as a programme manager at ’s Heeren Loo on the development of an Academic Psychotrauma Centre and is involved in follow-up research within the Viveon academic workplace.