AEGiS-07IAC: Cognitive group therapy for coping with HIV infection.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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Cognitive group therapy for coping with HIV infection.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:457 (abstract no. W.D.4277)
Emmott S; The Toronto Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

OBJECTIVE: To assess effectiveness of cognitive group therapy for decreasing the distress of those infected with HIV. Specifically, to monitor changes in anxiety, depression and coping mechanisms among a sample of HIV+ homosexual men before and after their participation in one of three 10-week cognitive therapy groups.

METHODS: The 26 participants were interviewed for suitability by the clinic psychologist and the following psychological measures were completed three weeks prior to the start of the group: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Coping with HIV Scale (CHS). Weekly group meetings introduced standard cognitive therapy techniques with a focus on HIV-specific topics.

RESULTS: For the 16 who completed group therapy there was a significant decline in BDI depression scores, from 17 to 12 (t=3.52, p. less than .004); a significant decline (t=2.56, p. less than .024) in STAI anxiety scores, from 46 to 36; and a non-significant decline in scores on the CHS from 41 to 36, indicating that participants felt more able to cope with being HIV+. Treatment effects were smaller for those with an AIDS diagnosis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A cognitive approach may be a useful and cost-effective method of helping individuals cope with HIV-related distress.

Keywords: AEGIS, Cognitive Therapy, Psychotherapy, Group, Adaptation, Psychological, HIV Infections, Depression, Anxiety, Homosexuality, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Personality Inventory, Emotions, Anxiety Disorders, Human, Male, ICA7KWDaegis,cognitivetherapy,psychotherapy,group,adaptation,psychological,hivinfections,depression,anxiety,homosexuality,psychiatricstatusratingscales,personalityinventory,emotions,anxietydisorders,human,male,ica7
910616
WD4277

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.