Intervention Description
Intervention Package Information
Evaluation Study and Results
References and Contact Information

Intervention Description

Target Population
Psychiatric outpatients receiving care for mental illness

Goals of Intervention

• Increase HIV-related knowledge, interpersonal skills, and attitudes favoring condom use
• Avoid unsafe sex practices (including unprotected vaginal sex)

Theoretic Basis
Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model

Intervention Duration
10 sessions delivered twice weekly for 5 weeks

Intervention Setting
Community-based hospital outpatient psychiatric clinics

Deliverer
Male and female co-facilitator teams; the primary facilitator has doctoral-level clinical training and the co-facilitator has at least master’s-level clinical training

Delivery Methods

• Counseling
• Exercises/games
• Group discussion
• Practice
• Role plays

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Intervention Package Information

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Evaluation Study and Results

The original evaluation study was conducted in Syracuse, New York between 1997 and 2000. The study included a sample of 408 psychiatric outpatients, 67% of whom had at least a high-school degree.

Key Intervention Effects

• Reduced unprotected vaginal sex

• Reduced number of total and casual sex partners

• Increased safer sex communication

Study Sample

• 67% White, 21% African American, 12% other
• 54% Female, 45% Male
• Mean age of 37 years

Recruitment Settings
Psychiatric clinics at 2 not-for-profit hospitals

Eligibility Criteria
Patients were considered eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, sexually active in the previous year, used alcohol or drugs in the previous year, diagnosed with a major mood or thought disorder using standard diagnostic procedures, and able to participate as determined by mental status exam.

Assignment Method
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: HIV risk reduction intervention (n = 142), substance use reduction comparison intervention (n = 140), or standard care control (n = 126).

Comparison Group
The substance use reduction intervention was delivered over 10 sessions (twice weekly for 5 weeks), and sought to enhance knowledge, motivation, and behavioral skills regarding the elimination or reduction of substance use (i.e., alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine consumption). The standard care control included outpatient psychiatric care including medication, psychotherapy and case management provided by a therapist on an ongoing basis.

Relevant Outcomes Measured and Follow-up Time

• Sexual risk behaviors during the prior 3 months (including unprotected vaginal sex, number of sex partners, and number of casual sex partners) were measured at 3- and 6-months post-intervention.
• Number of safer sex communications before intercourse during the prior 3 months were measured at 3- and 6-months post-intervention.
• Self-reported newly diagnosed STDs were measured at 6-months post-intervention.

Participant Retention

• HIV Intervention:
  73% retained at 3 months
  75% retained at 6 months
• Substance Use Reduction Comparison:
  79% retained at 3 months
  76% retained at 6 months
• Standard Care Control:
  81% retained at 3 months
  79% retained at 6 months

Significant Findings

• Over 6 months of follow-up, patients in the HIV risk reduction intervention showed greater significant reductions in their frequency of unprotected vaginal sex (p=.004 and p=.001) and number of casual sex partners (p=.001 and p=.015) than patients in the standard care group and substance use reduction intervention, respectively.
• Patients in the HIV risk reduction intervention also reduced their total number of sex partners significantly greater than patients in the standard care group (p=.037).
• Compared to patients in the substance use reduction intervention, those in the HIV intervention reported a significantly greater increase in safer sex communication over time (p=.001).

Considerations

• Women were more responsive than men to the HIV intervention with regard to frequency of unprotected vaginal sex. Patients diagnosed with a major depressive disorder were more likely to benefit from the intervention then patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

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References and Contact Information

• Carey, M. P., Carey, K. B., Maisto, S. A., Gordon, C. M., Schroder, K. E. E., & Vanable, P. A. (2004). Reducing HIV-risk behavior among adults receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 252-268.
• Carey, M. P., Gordon, C. M., Carey, K. B., & Maisto, S. A. (2000). HIV prevention and substance use reduction among persons with severe mental illness: An integration of education, skills-building, and motivational enhancement. Unpublished treatment manual. Syracuse, NY: Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University.

Researcher: Dr. Michael P. Carey
Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University
430 Huntington Hall 
Syracuse, NY 13244-2340
e-mail: mpcarey@psych.syr.edu

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