Objective
Body image disturbance is a distressing and interfering problem among many sexual minority men living with HIV, and is associated with elevated depressive symptoms and poor HIV self-care (e.g., antiretroviral therapy [ART] non-adherence). The current study tested the preliminary efficacy of a newly created intervention: cognitive behavioral therapy for body image and self-care (CBT-BISC) for this population.
Methods
The current study entailed a two-arm randomized controlled trial (N = 44) comparing CBT-BISC to an enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) condition. Analyses were conducted at 3 and 6 months after baseline. The primary outcome was body image disturbance (BDD-YBOCS), and secondary outcomes were ART adherence (electronically monitored via Wisepill), depressive symptoms (MADRS), and global functioning (GAF).
Results
At 3 months, the CBT-BISC condition showed substantial improvement in BDD-YBOCS (b = −13.6, SE = 2.7, 95% CI: −19.0, −8.3, p < .001; dppc2 = 2.39), MADRS (b = −4.9, SE = 2.8, 95% CI: −10.6, .70, p = .086; dppc2 = .87), ART adherence (b = 8.8, SE = 3.3, 95% CI: 2.0, 15.6, p = .01; dppc2 = .94), and GAF (b = 12.3, SE = 3.2, 95% CI: 6.1, 18.6, p < .001; dppc2 = 2.91) compared to the ETAU condition. Results were generally maintained, or improved, at 6 months; although, adherence findings were mixed depending on the calculation method.
Conclusions
CBT-BISC shows preliminary efficacy in the integrated treatment of body image disturbance and HIV self-care behaviors among sexual minority men living with HIV.