Boosting HIV Treatment: Innovative One-Session Behavioral Activation Approach

Advances in HIV treatment involving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have led to a steady decline in HIV-related mortality rates. However, it should be mentioned that HAART requires adherence to strict and often complicated medication regimens. Non-adherence to the regime of HAART has shown evident and significant decrease in its effectiveness. Participants provided with proper interventions depicted significantly reduced anxiety symptom severity besides exhibiting avoidance of negative aversive states.

World AIDS Day: Raising Awareness

To raise the necessary awareness about the disease and the virus, December 1 has been designated as World AIDS Day. Advances in treatment involving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have led to a steady decline in related mortality rates. However, HAART requires patients to adhere to strict and often complicated medication regimens. Non-adherence to the regime of HAART has shown evident and significant decrease in its effectiveness.

Depression and HIV Medication Non-Adherence

Depression has consistently depicted robust comorbidity with medication non-adherence. As a consequence, psychologists have worked tirelessly to develop numerous psychological interventions to target and treat depression and increase adherence to medical treatment among HIV-infected individuals. For some HIV-infected populations, especially those in rural areas, the length of these interventions may occasionally act as a deterrent.

Innovative HIV Behavioral Activation Treatment Study

Therefore, psychologists from South Dakota University conducted a study to provide an initial investigation of a one-session behavioral activation treatment for the symptoms of depression, designed specifically for HIV-infected patients (BATD-HIV). Researchers conducted the study at a community infectious disease clinic serving a largely rural population.

Study Findings

The study assessed depression, stress symptoms severity, anxiety, medication adherence, and behavioral activation processes. Researchers measured the CD4 T-cell count pre- and one month post the above-mentioned intervention. Participants showed less anxiety symptoms, avoided unpleasant aversive states, and engaged in rumination from before to one month after treatment.