Randomized controlled trial of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for HIV-positive persons

Questions remain regarding the clinical utility of psychological interventions for HIV-positive persons because randomized controlled trials have utilized stringent inclusion criteria and focused extensively on gay men. The present randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of a 15-session, individually delivered cognitive-behavioral intervention (n = 467) compared to a wait-list control (n = 469) in a diverse sample of HIV-positive persons who reported HIV transmission risk behavior. Five intervention sessions that dealt with executing effective coping responses were delivered between baseline and the 5 months post-randomization. Additional assessments were completed through 25 months post-randomization. Despite previously documented reductions in HIV transmission risk, no intervention-related changes in psychosocial adjustment were observed across the 25-month investigation period. In addition, there were no intervention effects on psychosocial adjustment among individuals who presented with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. More intensive mental health interventions may be necessary to improve psychosocial adjustment among HIV-positive individuals.

AIDS Behav. 2009 Jun;13(3):555-63. Epub 2008 Jul 15. Carrico AW, Chesney MA, Johnson MO, Morin SF, Neilands TB, Remien RH, Rotheram-Borus MJ, Lennie Wong F; NIMH Healthy Living Project Team. Collaborators (43) Chesney MA, Ehrhardt AA, Kelly JA, Pequegnat W, Rotheram-Borus MJ, Benotsch EG, Brondino MJ, Catz SL, Charlebois ED, DesJarlais DC, Duan N, Exner TM, Goldstein RB, Gore-Felton C, Hirky AE, Johnson MO, Kertzner RM, Kirshenbaum SB, Kittel LE, Klitzman R, Lee M, Levin B, Lightfoot M, Morin SF, Pinkerton SD, Remien RH, Rhodes F, Tross S, Weinhardt LS, Weiss R, Wolfe H, Wolfe R, Wong L, Batterham P, Rogers T, Hackl K, Hong D, Huchting K, Mickalian JD, Peterson M, Gordon CM, Rausch D, Stover E. Department of Psychiatry, Health Psychology Program, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St., Suite 465, Box 0848, San Francisco, CA 94143-0848, USA. adam.carrico@ucsf.edu