Efficacy of Group Intervention to Reduce Stress Symptoms

Stanford University416 enrolled

Overview

This research study will examine the usefulness of groups in reducing stress and helping individuals with HIV to stay healthy and avoid problems associated with sexually transmitted diseases. We hope to discover whether being in a group is effective in reducing stress-related symptoms and promoting healthy behaviors.

This is a risk reduction intervention for adults who are living with HIV, are experiencing trauma-related stress symptoms, and are at risk for HIV transmission. By first treating trauma symptoms, the effects of a skills-building HIV risk reduction intervention for adults experiencing trauma-related symptoms such as hyperarousal, dissociation, and avoidance will be enhanced. This is based on a model the proposes trauma-related symptoms have direct effects on HIV risk behavior. Therefore, the successful treatment of trauma-related symptoms will facilitate HIV risk behavior change.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

416

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic HIV Infections

Interventions

HIV Skills-based PreventionBEHAVIORAL

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria:Must be 18 years or older, must be HIV-positive, report engaging in behavior that could put them at risk for HIV transmission in the past three months, report experiencing one or more trauma-related symptoms within the past three months. Exclusion Criteria:Exclusion criteria include the presence of gross cognitive impairment, dementia, acute psychosis, or severe physical impairment that would preclude adequate comprehension of assessment material and participation in small group intervention.

Locations (1)

Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanford, California, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

To determine if decreasing trauma-related stress symptoms improves HIV risk reduction behavior above a standard HIV risk reduction intervention alone post -intervention 3, 6, and 12 months after the group intervention sessions.

unprotected insertive and receptive sexual intercourse

Time frame: immediate post intervention, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

To determine if decreasing trauma-related stress symptoms improves HIV risk reduction behavior above a standard HIV risk reduction intervention alone

Mediation effect on trauma symptoms on HIV-related risk behavior

Time frame: immediate post intervention, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

Secondary Outcomes

To determine whether key variables moderate the intervention's effects.

Gender, age, ethnicity, or psychological distress (e.g. , depression, anxiety) may interact with the intervention to affect risky sexual or drug-related behavior.

Time frame: immediate post intervention, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.