A longitudinal study of persistent smoking among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men in primary relationships.

Introduction: We examined the stability of smoking behaviors, and factors associated with persistent smoking in a longitudinal study of HIV-positive gay and bisexual men in primary relationships.

Methods: A sample of 377 HIV-positive men on antiretroviral therapy and their same-sex partners completed five assessments over two years. Participants completed semi-structured interviews which assessed smoking status, sociodemographic factors, relationship dynamics, and HIV-related disease characteristics.

Overcoming Barriers to HIV Treatment Adherence: A Brief Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for HIV-Positive Adults on Antiretroviral Treatment.

Maximizing HIV treatment adherence is critical in efforts to optimize health outcomes and to prevent further HIV transmission. The Balance Project intervention uses cognitive behavioral approaches to improve antiretroviral medication adherence through promoting adaptive coping with medication side effect and distress related to HIV. This 5-session intervention has been documented to prevent nonadherence among persons living with HIV who experience high levels of distress associated with their antiretroviral medication side effects.

Primary relationships, HIV treatment adherence, and virologic control.

To identify factors associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and virologic control among HIV-positive men on ART in primary relationships, data were collected from 210 male couples (420 men). Dyadic actor-partner analyses investigated associations with three levels of adherence-related dependent variables: self-efficacy (ASE), self-reported adherence, and virologic control. Results indicated that higher patient ASE was related to his own positive beliefs about medications, higher relationship autonomy and intimacy, and fewer depressive symptoms.

Improving coping skills for self-management of treatment side effects can reduce antiretroviral medication nonadherence among people living with HIV.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment side effects have a deleterious impact on treatment adherence, which is necessary to optimize treatment outcomes including morbidity and mortality.

Purpose: To examine the effect of the Balance Project intervention, a five-session, individually delivered HIV treatment side effects coping skills intervention on antiretroviral medication adherence.

Methods: HIV+ men and women (N = 249) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with self-reported high levels of ART side effect distress were randomized to intervention or treatment as usual.

A validity and reliability study of the coping self-efficacy scale.

Objectives: Investigate the psychometric characteristics of the coping self-efficacy (CSE) scale, a 26-item measure of one's confidence in performing coping behaviors when faced with life challenges.

Design: Data came from two randomized clinical trials (N1=149, N2=199) evaluating a theory-based Coping Effectiveness Training (CET) intervention in reducing psychological distress and increasing positive mood in persons coping with chronic illness.

Methods: The 348 participants were HIV-seropositive men with depressed mood who have sex with men.

Positive emotions: exploring the other hemisphere in behavioral medicine.

The search for the psychological antecedents of medical disorders has focused on the role of stress and negative emotional states. Previous research in this area has investigated relations between negative emotions and physiological adaptations (e.g.

Coping effectiveness training for men living with HIV: results from a randomized clinical trial testing a group-based intervention.

Objective: This randomized clinical trial was designed to compare the effects of a theory-based coping effectiveness training (CET) intervention with an active informational control (HIV-Info) condition and a waiting-list control (WLC) condition on psychological distress and positive mood in HIV-seropositive gay men.

Materials And Methods: The authors recruited 149 self-identified gay or bisexual men who were 21 to 60 years of age, reported depressed mood, and had CD4 levels of 200 to 700 cells/mm(3). CET and HIV-Info participants attended 10 90-minute group sessions during the 3-month intervention phase and six maintenance sessions over the remainder of the year.

Social support, distress, and well-being in older men living with HIV infection.

Older men with HIV infection/AIDS, having often lived with the condition longer, are more likely to confront the stress of managing more advanced HIV disease than their younger counterparts. Meanwhile, they also are more likely to have less social support and experience more distress than younger persons with HIV infection. The moderating effect of social support on health functioning and distress is unknown for persons with HIV infection, particularly those who are older.