Age moderates the relationship between source of social support and mental health in racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth.

We examined the relationship between source of social support and mental health (and the moderating impact of age) in 64 low socioeconomic status, racial minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents/young adults. Social support from family ( β = -.302, p = .

A multi-level modeling approach examining PTSD symptom reduction during prolonged exposure therapy: moderating effects of number of trauma types experienced, having an HIV-related index trauma, and years since HIV diagnosis among HIV-positive adults.

People living with HIV (PLWH) have extensive interpersonal trauma histories and higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy is efficacious in reducing PTSD across a variety of trauma samples; however, research has not examined factors that influence how PTSD symptoms change during PE for PLWH. Using multi-level modeling, we examined the potential moderating effect of number of previous trauma types experienced, whether the index trauma was HIV-related or not, and years since HIV diagnosis on PTSD symptom reduction during a 10-session PE protocol in a sample of 51 PLWH.

The impact of HIV diagnosis-related vs. non-diagnosis related trauma on PTSD, depression, medication adherence, and HIV disease markers.

The present study examined differences in three groups of people living with HIV (PLWH); those who did not meet post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) criteria, those with HIV-related PTSD, and those with non-HIV-related PTSD. Patients with PTSD reported more PTSD and depression symptoms and lower levels of medication adherence. Participants with HIV-related PTSD were more likely to report reliving the trauma and were more adherent to HIV medications than participants with non-HIV-related PTSD.

Patients' reasons for electing to undergo total knee arthroplasty impact post-operative pain severity and range of motion.

The present study examines the reasons cited by 103 patients for their electing to undergo total knee arthroplastic surgery and the relationship between these reasons and their post-operative pain and range of motion. Results suggest that individuals who describe different reasons for undergoing surgery vary in their post-operative recovery. Specifically, patients who cite pain as the reason they are undergoing surgery report greater levels of pain during the early post-operative period.

Relationship of race-, sexual orientation-, and HIV-related discrimination with adherence to HIV treatment: a pilot study.

Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) must be close to perfect in order to maintain suppression of HIV viral load, and to prevent the development of drug resistant strains of HIV. People living with HIV (PLWH) often report low levels of adherence. One variable that has been linked to poor adherence is perceived discrimination; however, research has generally not considered the possible unique effects of different types of discrimination on adherence.

Polysomnographically measured sleep abnormalities in PTSD: a meta-analytic review.

Although sleep complaints are common among patients with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), polysomnographic studies examining sleep abnormalities in PTSD have produced inconsistent results. To clarify discrepant findings, we conducted a meta-analytic review of 20 polysomnographic studies comparing sleep in people with and without PTSD. Results showed that PTSD patients had more stage 1 sleep, less slow wave sleep, and greater rapid-eye-movement density compared to people without PTSD.

Emotional support and affect: associations with health behaviors and active coping efforts in men living with HIV.

The present study represents a cross-sectional examination of the relationship between affect, social support and illness adjustment in men diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Positive and negative affect were examined as separate mediators of the relationship between emotional support received from a primary support provider and illness adjustment in 105 men living with HIV. Results suggested that depressive symptoms emerged as a mediator between emotional support and engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors (assessed by summary index).

The differential impact of PTSD and depression on HIV disease markers and adherence to HAART in people living with HIV.

Despite high rates of comorbidity, research has typically focused on the independent impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms in people living with HIV (PLWH). The present study examined the independent and comorbid influence of PTSD and depression symptoms on medication adherence, CD4 cell counts, and viral load, over the course of 3 months in 57 PLWH (82% men, 54% Caucasian, 44% African American) recruited from a clinic or social service agency. Both PTSD and depressive symptoms predicted lower subsequent adherence.