Sexual violence, trauma symptoms, and depression among men living with HIV/AIDS

Far more than the general population, persons living with HIV tend to have depressive symptoms and to report experiencing traumatic life events. The persistence of trauma correlates to a decrease in mental and physical health, while trauma related symptoms have direct effects on HIV risk behavior. This study examines men's experience of sexual violence and its relationship with depression and trauma symptoms.

Project RISE is a randomized clinical trial designed to decrease HIV-related risk behavior and trauma-related stress symptoms using a group intervention. Data were compiled from baseline interviews prior to randomization with 40 seropositive men living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Study participants identified as Caucasian (42.5%), Hispanic (30%), African American (22.5%), and other (5%). Nearly two-thirds (65.0%) identified as gay. The rest identified as heterosexual (17.5%) or bisexual (17.5%). The mean age of the participants was 46.

Slightly more than half of the participants (52.5%) reported experiencing forced vaginal, oral or anal sex. They also reported significant depression (64%) and trauma symptoms (hyperarousal 84%, intrusion and avoidance 79%), indicative of clinical psychopathology. Logistic regression analysis found that depression (beta = -.07) and trauma symptoms (beta = .08) were positively and significantly associated with reporting forced intercourse [Nagelkerke R-square = .24, (p<.03)].

People living with HIV/AIDS have experienced a great deal of interpersonal trauma directly associated with current depressive and trauma symptoms. We need to develop intervention efforts tailored to meet the needs of people living with HIV by further examining how traumatic experiences affect their mental health.