Outcome of Cognitive-Behavioral and Support Group Brief Therapies for Depressed, HIV-Infected Persons

Objective: Although many studies have documented patterns of emotional distress in per-sons with HIV disease, there have been few controlled evaluations of therapy outcomes with these individuals. This research evaluated the effects of brief cognitive-behavioral or social support group therapy with this population. Method: Sixty-eight depressed men with HIV infection were randomly assigned to one ofthree conditions: eight-session cognitive-behavioral groups, eight-session social support groups, or a comparison condition. Before and after in-tervention and at 3-month follow-up, all participants were individually assessed by using measures ofsymptoms ofdistress as well as substance use and sexual practices. Results: Rela-tive to the comparison group, both the cognitive-behavioraland socialsupport group therapies produced reductions in depression, hostility, and somatization. The social support intervention also produced reductions in overall psychiatric symptoms and tended to reduce maladaptive interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, and frequency of unprotected receptive anal intercourse, while the cognitive-behavioral intervention resulted in less frequent illicit drug use during the f ollow-up period. Tests for clinical significance ofchange particularly underscored benefits of the social support group intervention both at postintervention and at long-term follow-up