Outcomes from a group intervention for coping with HIV/AIDS and childhood sexual abuse: reductions in traumatic stress.

Full Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse is common among HIV-infected persons, though few empirically supported treatments addressing sexual abuse are available for men and women with HIV/AIDS. This study reports the outcome from a randomized controlled trial of a group intervention for coping with HIV and sexual abuse. A diverse sample of 202 HIV-positive men and women who were sexually abused as children was randomly assigned to one of three conditions:
a 15-session HIV and trauma coping group intervention, a 15-session support group comparison condition, or a waitlist control (later randomly assigned to an intervention condition). Traumatic stress symptoms were assessed at baseline and post-intervention, with analysis conducted for the three-condition comparison followed by analysis of the two-condition comparison between the coping and support group interventions. Participants in the coping group intervention exhibited reductions in intrusive traumatic stress symptoms compared to the waitlist condition and in avoidant traumatic stress symptoms compared to the support group condition. No differences were found between the support group intervention and waitlist conditions. Tests of clinical significance documented the meaningfulness of change in symptoms.

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Author information

Author/s: Sikkema, Kathleen J (KJ); Hansen, Nathan B (NB); Kochman, Arlene (A); Tarakeshwar, Nalini (N); Neufeld, Sharon (S); Meade, Christina S (CS); Fox, Ashley M (AM);

Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, 60 College Street - 402, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT 06520-8034, USA. kathleen.sikkema(-atsign-)yale.edu

Grants: P30-MH62294 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-MH62965 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; T32-MH20031 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: AIDS and behavior (AIDS Behav), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 11 (issue 1) : pp 49-60

Dates: Created 2007/01/19; Completed 2007/06/12; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 16858634, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - psychology; therapy
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Child
Child Abuse, Sexual
Crime Victims
Female

HIV Infections - psychology; therapy
Humans
Male
New York City
Psychotherapy, Group
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - prevention & control
Urban Population

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