The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) plans to release a Targeted PCORI Funding Announcement (Targeted PFA) on January 11, 2022, seeking to fund randomized controlled trials or observational studies that focus on comparative clinical effectiveness of interventions targeting mental health in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This Targeted PFA preannouncement is provided to allow potential applicants additional time to identify collaborators; obtain stakeholder input on potential studies; and develop responsive, high-quality proposals.
PCORI’s 2019 reauthorizing legislation specifies IDD as a research priority. There are approximately 7–8 million people in the United States with IDD, representing about 3 percent of the population. While people with IDD often have co-occurring conditions, mental health conditions in particular are common, with prevalence estimates ranging from 37 percent to 55 percent in those with IDD and up to 65 percent in adolescents with IDD. There is a high degree of heterogeneity for symptom presentation and unique needs across the lifespan for those with IDD and co-occurring mental health concerns. These factors contribute to care complexity. Broad evidence gaps exist around mental health treatment in individuals with IDD, and PCORI stakeholders have identified more research on interventions for those with both IDD and mental health conditions as a priority.
PCORI’s Targeted PFA will solicit applications that respond to the following question:
What is the comparative clinical effectiveness of evidence-based or commonly used approaches (e.g., specific pharmacologic and behavioral interventions) that address mental health in individuals with IDD?
Deadline for Letter of Intent: Feb. 8, 2022