Treatment Review #15; December 1994

Psychological counseling can be helpful in coping with HIV and AIDS. But paying for therapy can be expensive, especially if you are on a limited income. The two studies described below may be able to help you with up to 17 weeks of therapy. At the same time you are helping to collect information about the kind of counseling that is most useful to people who are HIV+. Free and ongoing testing and counseling is available with testing repeated every six months. Participants receive regular counseling about safer sex and other HIV- related issues. The Network contacted the study site to ask if participants could be anonymous and was told that people have used made-up names in the past. Only a number is put on records and all data is in locked cabinets with no release of information to third parties. The person we spoke to at the study site said they just need a name in order to be able to contact you easily to set up appointments. Call The Network if you would like the number to make an appointment for testing. This information gathering study is for HIV-negative and HIV+ participants. This site also has a study which provides 17 weeks of one- on-one therapy sessions for HIV+ individuals who are depressed, distressed or anxious. Participants are randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments. The treatments are different kinds of therapy, which the study coordinator will explain to you, or therapy plus an antidepressant medication called Tofranil. Follow-up of participants continues for one year.