Social problem-solving training has been successful in improving maladaptive behaviour and problem-solving skills for individuals with intellectual disability. However, in contrast to individuals without intellectual disability there has been only one study that has examined whether social problem-solving training can improve psychological distress in individuals with intellectual disability and a psychiatric diagnosis. Three participants from a vocational community centre with mild intellectual disability, comorbid mental illness, and challenging behaviour, participated in 15 individually delivered sessions of social problem-solving training. Social problem-solving skill, behaviour, and psychological distress measures were used to assess outcome. All three participants showed improvement in social problem-solving skills, and two participants showed improvement in depression. Improvement was maintained at 4-week follow-up. The results provide preliminary evidence that social problem-solving training could be an effective intervention tool for the treatment of psychological distress in individuals with mild intellectual disability.

The aim of this research was to establish the effect of a social problem-solving training program for 8th grade students. In the experimental group, 14 students were 14 years old and 1 student was 15 years old. In the control group, 13 students were 14 years old and 2 students were 15 years old. The Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) was administered to the students. The students in the experimental group were trained in the Social Problem-Solving program at school. The students in the Social Problem-Solving Training Program had statistically significant lower scores on physical aggression, anger, hostility, indirect aggression and total aggression than the students who did not undertake the program.