In-Home Mental Health Treatment for Individuals with HIV

Abstract

Mental health problems are highly prevalent among individuals with HIV and are consistently associated with negative health outcomes. However, mental illness often remains untreated due to significant psychosocial and physical barriers to treatment participation. The Collaborative HIV/AIDS Mental Health Program (CHAMP) assessed the outcomes associated with providing 9 months of in-home mental health counseling for 40 individuals with HIV and a Major Axis I mental disorder. The evidence-based Illness Management and Recovery Model was adapted for use with HIV-positive individuals for the study using a community-based participatory research approach. Study participants were surveyed at baseline, 5 and 9 months to assess for changes in health outcomes. Thirty-five percent of study participants were female, 80% African American, 33% self-identified as MSM and the average participant age was 43. Forty percent of participants were on psychotropic medication at baseline. Participants had an average of 8 counseling visits (median 9). Statistically significant decreases in the global Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) score and a number of BSI symptoms dimensions including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive, phobic anxiety and hostility were detected, indicating a reduction of psychiatric symptoms. Statistically significant improvement was also identified for the SF-12 mental health scale, adaptive coping, overall social support and emotional support. No differences in psychiatric outcomes were identified by gender, race/ethnicity, or sexual preference. Findings from the CHAMP Study suggest that the use of in-home mental health treatment may be beneficial in engaging and treating HIV-positive individuals with comorbid mental health disorders.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Rural China

“…This finding is consistent with prior studies indicating that psychological illnesses such as PTSD are associated with worse physical health outcomes (16, 18, 44). One possible interpretation is that among PLHA, physical functioning is highly correlated with social functioning that may play a role in mediating the relationship between PTSD symptoms and physical health.…”

HIV Testing Among Adults with Mental Illness in the United States

“…18 Moreover, treating mental illness in HIV-infected populations may decrease sexual risk taking, increase prescription of antiretroviral therapy, and improve compliance with HIV treatment. [19][20][21] For these and other reasons, HIV testing is integral to the US National HIV/AIDS Strategy and test-andtreat approaches to HIV prevention. [22][23][24] An evaluation of the 1999 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) revealed that persons with major depression episodes (including bipolar and schizoaffective disorder), generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks were more likely to report ever having had an HIV test than those without these disorders (45.0% vs. 31.1%).…”

Community-based participatory research in counselling and psychotherapy

“…The remaining eight articles cover a range of types of therapy including group therapy (Quintas & Burnett, 2013), art therapy (Kapitan, Litell, & Torres, 2011) and family therapy (Mendenhall & Doherty, 2007). Five articles discuss individual therapy for adults: Reif et al (2012); Kaleeba et al (1997); Aisenberg, Dwight-Johnson, O'Brien, Ludman, and Golinelli (2012); Green, Dicks, and Buckroyd (2009); and Gray and Price (2014).…”