Assertiveness and Problem-solving Training for Mildly Mentally Retarded Persons with Dual Diagnoses

This study investigated the differential effectiveness of assertiveness and problem-solving training on dually diagnosed patients' adaptive social behavior, distress and psychiatric symptoms, anger control, and problem-solving coping skills using a counterbalanced design. Assessments were conducted at pretreatment, midphase, posttreatment, and a 3-month follow-up examination. A combined assertiveness and problem-solving training package was effective for treatment of individuals with mild mental retardation with dual psychiatric diagnoses. Specifically, improvements occurred regarding both self-report measures of distress and caregiver ratings of adaptive functioning; however, no essential differences were found between these two treatment protocols. The importance of using self-regulatory models of therapy with this population is highlighted, and recommendations were made for future research.