Effect of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy on Depressive Symptoms in a Sample of Parents of Children with Intellectual Disability

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the young and older adult population is a growing concern worldwide. Consequently, this situation seemed to have influenced the change in the patterns of thought. Patterns of distorted thinking and weakened capacity for behavioural control are among the leading explanations. With the growing concerns about depression in Nigeria, this study tested the effect of a rational emotive behaviour therapy intervention in reducing depressive symptoms in a sample of parents of children with intellectual disabilities in Nigeria. This study utilized a randomized pretest/posttest control group design, parents of children with intellectual disability who responded to invitation about the trial were screened for depressive symptoms, readiness to participate among others were considered for inclusion. A power calculation was conducted to confirm the sample size. The Goldberg depression scale, as the main outcome measure, was administered before, immediately after, and three months after completion of a 12-session rational emotive behaviour therapy, delivered by professional counselling psychologists and designed to reduce depressive symptoms. Sixty-one parents (males and females) participated in the REBT whilst 62 participants received only ‘treatment as usual (TAU). The groups were similar in depressive symptoms scores prior to the intervention. Thereafter, the REBT group revealed a considerable decrease in scores, which was sustained, while the control group showed no change in scores. ANCOVA analysis established a significant between-group difference immediately and three months after the intervention. These findings finally suggest considerable promise for the REBT.