205739 Small Group Behavioral Health Interventions Reduce Distress among HIV-positive Recovering Drug Abusers (RDAs)

Monday, November 9, 2009

Neha V. Desai, BDS , Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Department of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, North Miami, FL
Shyam S. Jindal, BDS , Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, AIDS Prevention Program, FIU Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, North Miami, FL
Yamile Marrero, JD, MPH , AIDS Prevention Program, FIU, Miami, FL
Brenda Lerner, RN, PsyD , AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Jessy G. Dévieux, PhD , AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Robert Malow, PhD , AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Background

HIV-positive individuals experience psychological distress which is associated with poor medication adherence, risk behavior and poor quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Behavioral Health Interventions are effective in reducing distress, enhancing coping and maintaining health among HIV-positive recovering drug abusers(RDAs).

Methods

A sample of 124 HIV-positive RDAs (mean age= 40 years, males 53.2%, females 46%; African American 72.6%, Non-Hispanic whites 17.2%, others 8.9%) participated in a 10 week intervention study. 80 were enrolled in a Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management (CBSM) group which included a combination of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies; 44 participated in a Health Promotion Condition (HPC), which provided information about staying healthy, including common health problems. The Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI), a 53 item questionnaire with 9 subscales, was administered to participants. A paired samples t-test was conducted to compare baseline and post intervention reports of symptoms.

Results

Results showed that participants reported significant reductions in the symptoms from baseline to post–intervention on 6 of the 9 subscales of the BSI: Anxiety: 2.41 to 1.60, t = 3.37, p=0.01; Phobia: 2.44 to 1.57, t= 3.31, p=0.01; Somatization: 5.57 to 4.38; t= 2.89 p= 0.05; Interpersonal Sensitivity: 2.65 to 2.07; t= 2.56 p=0.01; Depression: 4.27 to 2.97; t=2.81, p=0.001; Obsessive Compulsive symptoms: 6.14 to 4.85; t= 2.60 p=0.01.

Conclusions

Behavioral Health Interventions can be effective in reducing psychological symptoms and improving quality of life among HIV-positive recovering drug abusers.

Learning Objectives:
1)Identify whether behavioral health interventions reduce distress,enhance coping, and maintain health among HIV-positive Recovering Drug Abusers(RDAs) . 2)Describe the change in psychological symptoms of distress for HIV-positive RDAs attending behavioral health interventions. 3)Name the subscales on the Brief Symtoms Inventory and Identify those that showed change in the behavioral health interventions.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, Stress

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have completed my Bachelors in Sciences, and am currently pursuing my Masters in Public Health, with major in Epidemiology. I have worked as a Research Assistant for projects aimed at prevention of HIV/AIDS. I am currently working as a graduate assistant for projects aimed at assessing interventions for HIV-positive populations. I have had past and current experience in data analysis on interventions aimed at HIV-positive populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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