Emotional Disclosure in HIV

University of Miami283 enrolled

Overview

The specific objective of this study are to examine whether or not a treatment aimed at emotional disclosure may have beneficial psychological, health and immune effects for HIV infected individuals. The goal of the current study is to test the efficacy of emotional disclosure through writing in patients with HIV infection. We will compare emotional disclosure through writing about traumatic experiences (experimental intervention) to a control intervention (writing about emotionally neutral topics). \[Note that HIV RNA viral load, CD4 T cells, urinary cortisol, health related dysfunction, psychological distress, and medication adherence are the 6 primary outcome variables.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

283

Conditions

HIV Infections

Interventions

Trauma writingBEHAVIORAL

Writing about daily eventsBEHAVIORAL

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria * 18-65 years of age inclusive * At least 8 years of formal education * Literate * Fluent in English All of the following three must apply: * No active Category C HIV AIDS-defining symptoms * CD4 T-lymphocyte count between 150-499 * Viral load \>1000 Exclusion Criteria * Less than 8 years formal education * Illiterate or non-English speaking * Active systemic diseases that would interfere with participation * Current alcohol or substance dependence * Planned change in HIV medication in the next 6 months, or recent change in past 2 months * Introduction of antidepressant medication within 30 days of study start * Current psychological counseling, cognitive behavior therapy, support group or other psychological therapy, or plans to start any of the above * Diagnosis of PTSD or major depression * Unable to attend at least 4 treatment sessions

Locations (1)

University of Miami Dept. of Psychology & Behavioral Medicine

Coral Gables, Florida, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Decrease in psychological distress

Time frame: 1 year

Secondary Outcomes

Increase in CD4 T-lymphocytes

Time frame: 1 year

Decrease in the number of HIV symptoms

Time frame: 1 year

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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