The proposed study uses a randomized controlled experimental design to evaluate the efficacy of a brief intervention using spiritual self schema (3S+) counseling to simultaneously target HIV health outcomes, and substance use among alcohol and/or drug dependent HIV positive older adults (age 50+), relative to an attention control condition. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either: (1) 12 sessions of 3S+ counseling, adapted for the present study to target both non-injection drug use, drinking, and HIV health; or (2) 12 sessions of education about HIV health and the associated with alcohol and drug use that will serve as an attention-control.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
120
The Spiritual Self Schema therapy (3S+) intervention will consist of a series of 12 one hour-long sessions delivered individually to participants over a four-month period. The 3S+ approach combines cognitive and behavioral therapy techniques with elements of non-theistic Buddhist philosophy to increase motivation for treatment adherence, alcohol and/or substance use reduction or abstinence and the prevention or reduction of HIV risk behaviors. 3S+ draws from self-regulation theory, self-schema theory, and self-discrepancy theory to assist participants in defining and perceiving their addict self, when their addict self is active, and its resulting negative affect state. 3S+ remediates the "addict" schema by proposing the construction of an alternate and competing schema: the "spiritual self." This spiritual self schema is compatible with HIV self-care, alcohol and drug use reduction or abstinence, adherence to treatment, and a compassionate life.
Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training of Hunter College, CUNY
New York, New York, United States
Adherence to HIV medication
Participants in the intervention condition will report greater reductions in viral load, and greater increases in CD4 counts and self-reported adherence than those in the education comparison at the end of the intervention period (4 months). Those in the intervention condition will also maintain greater reductions in viral load, and greater increases in CD4 counts and self-reported adherence than those in the education comparison condition at the three follow-up assessments (4, 8, and 12 months).
Time frame: every four months over the course of a year
Substance use
Participants in the intervention condition will report greater reductions in self-reported days of substance use and severity of dependence than those in the education comparison at at the end of the intervention period (4 months). Those in the intervention condition will also maintain greater reductions in self-reported days of substance use than those in the education comparison condition at the three follow-up assessments (4, 8, and 12 months).
Time frame: every four months over the course of a year
Mental Health/Quality of Life
Participants in the intervention condition will report greater increases in mental health measures (e.g, depression, anxiety) and quality of life measures (e.g., life satisfaction, loneliness, perceived stress).
Time frame: every four months over the course of a year
Sexual Risk
Participants in the intervention condition will report greater reductions in high-risk sexual behavior compared to participants in the educational comparison condition.
Time frame: every four months over the course of a year
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