Supportive-expressive and coping group teletherapies for HIV-infected older adults: A randomized clinical trial

Timothy G. Heckman, Bernadette D. Heckman, Timothy Anderson, Travis I. Lovejoy, David Mohr, Mark Sutton, Joseph A. Bianco, Jen Tzer Gau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

This clinical trial tested whether telephone-administered supportive-expressive group therapy or coping effectiveness training reduce depressive symptoms in HIV-infected older adults. Participants from 24 states (N = 361) completed the Geriatric Depression Scale at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 4- and 8-month follow-up and were randomized to one of three study arms: (1) 12 weekly sessions of telephone-administered, supportive-expressive group therapy (tele-SEGT; n = 122); (2) 12 weekly sessions of telephone-administered, coping effectiveness training (tele-CET; n = 118); or (3) a standard of care (SOC) control group (n = 121). Tele-SEGT participants reported fewer depressive symptoms than SOC controls at post-intervention (MSEGT = 11.9, MSOC = 14.3) and 4- (MSEGT = 12.5, MSOC = 14.4) and 8-month follow-up (MSEGT = 12.7, MSOC = 14.5) and fewer depressive symptoms than tele-CET participants at post-intervention (MSEGT = 12.4, MCET = 13.6) and 8-month follow-up (MSEGT = 12.7, MCET = 14.1). Tele-CET participants reported no statistically significant differences from SOC controls in GDS values at any assessment period. Tele-SEGT constitutes an efficacious treatment to reduce depressive symptoms in HIV-infected older adults.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3034-3044
Number of pages11
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume17
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • AIDS
  • Coping
  • HIV
  • Supportive-expressive group therapy
  • Teletherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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