background Patients with borderline intellectual functioning (bif) or intellectual disability (id) are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd). However, co-occurrence of bif/id and ptsd symptoms often leads to exclusion for treatment in regular mental health care centers.
aim To determine whether standard treatment programs for ptsd can be used in the treatment of patients with bif/id.
method Qualitative review of good practices, scientific literature and recent reports about bif, id and ptsd.
results Literature on evidence-based treatment programs for ptsd suggests that there is no need to be reluctant in starting treatment in patients with bif/id. Adjustment of communication and tempo is recommended.
conclusion There is reason to believe that standard treatment can be used in treating patients with a low iq. More research to confirm this assumption is necessary, taken into account the size of this patient group.