title: Use of a brief behavioral skills intervention to prevent HIV infection among chronic mentally ill adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research shows that many chronic psychiatric patients are at risk for infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study investigated the effects of a behavioral skills training program designed to prevent HIV infection among chronic mentally ill adults living in an inner-city area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven men and 25 women were randomly assigned either to a four-session AIDS prevention program emphasizing risk education, sexual assertiveness, condom use, risk-related behavioral self-management, and problem-solving skills or to a waiting-list group, who later received the same intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the waiting-list control group, participants in the prevention program demonstrated significant gains in AIDS-related knowledge and intentions to change risk behaviors. The prevention program also significantly reduced rates of unprotected sexual intercourse and increased the use of condoms over a one-month follow-up period. A subset of participants who provided two-month follow-up data maintained some behavior changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relatively brief, skills-focused AIDS prevention program for chronic psychiatric patients produced reductions in HIV risk behaviors. Such HIV risk reduction intervention programs may be of use in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings.
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kalichman
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sikkema
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bulto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome