Behavioral Activation and HIV Risk Reduction for Men Who Have Sex With Men With Crystal Meth Abuse

Massachusetts General Hospital50 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to research a new behavioral treatment to reduce sexual risk-taking in men who have sex with men (MSM) who abuse crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth), and are at risk for HIV acquisition. This study proposes using a treatment based on our original pilot study that incorporates risk reduction and behavioral activation therapy. In order to help learn what types of treatment programs best help individuals who abuse crystal meth and engage in sexual risk-taking, we will compare our treatment to a control group. The treatment group will receive therapy incorporating behavioral risk reduction counseling with behavioral activation therapy to treat depression, helping individuals reengage in their life. The control group will receive the risk reduction counseling without the behavioral activation therapy. The current study hopes to explore the efficacy of this previous developed treatment in a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial.

1. To estimate, in a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), the effect size of the proposed intervention on reductions in sexual risk taking and crystal meth use. The primary outcome is the number of unprotected anal sex acts and a secondary outcome is reduction in crystal meth use episodes over the follow up period. 2. To explore the degree to which improvements in sexual risk taking are associated with the conceptual mediators of the effects of the intervention: reductions in crystal meth use and increases in pleasurable (but safe) activities, BAT skills, use of risk reduction skills, and reductions in depressed mood.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age: 18 years or older * Self-reports as a man who has sex with men * HIV-uninfected and verifies serostatus at baseline (HIV antibody testing and positive tests will be confirmed by Western Blots; see Human Subjects for operational aspects) * Meets DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for crystal meth abuse/dependence * Self reported unprotected anal intercourse-receptive or insertive-with a non-monogamous male sexual partner, while concurrently using crystal meth (use of meth must be a few hours prior to, or during, sex) in the prior three months Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to provide informed consent due to severe mental or physical illness, or substance intoxication at the time of interview * Has lived in the greater Boston area for three months or less (as a means to enhance participant retention) * Discovery of active suicidal ideation at the time of interview (these patients will be referred immediately for treatment, but may join the study when this is resolved)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in sexual risk

We will ask about number of unprotected and protected insertive and receptive anal, vaginal and oral sex acts with male and female sex partners separately for HIV seropositive, seronegative, and partners of unknown HIV status with questions from measures used in previous studies. We will use this to calculate the ratio of protected to unprotected acts, by serostatus partner, and by whether or not crystal meth was being used before or during sex. Baseline and three and six-month follow-up assessments will assess sexual risk taking in the previous 3-months to the assessment being completed.

Time frame: Baseline and three months post-treatment; baseline and six months post-treatment

Secondary Outcomes

Change in crystal methamphetamine use

For the present study, we will administer relevant sections of the Drug and Alcohol sections of the NIDA-CTN Addictions Severity Index Lite (ASI-Lite). We will use this methodology to determine the number of days of drug use, specifically crystal meth, and the number of distinct crystal meth episodes between study assessment visits (i.e., separate crystal meth binges).In addition to the ASI-Lite, we will also collect participant self-report measures of substance use via the ACASI. We have adapted and will also use the CDC's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Survey, MSM cycle.