A bereavement support group intervention affects plasma burden of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Report of a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the potential impact of a bereavement support group on plasma viral load.


METHODS
A randomly selected subsample of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive homosexual men participating in a controlled clinical trial of a bereavement support group intervention was studied. The intervention consisted of one 90-minute group session per week for 10 weeks. The plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number was measured at baseline and after intervention (10 weeks) by the Roche AMPLICOR assay.


RESULTS
There was a significant effect of the intervention on the change on the plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number (limited control model, beta = -0.49, p = 0.02; extended control model, beta = -0.37, p = 0.01), independent of antiretroviral therapies; prophylactic therapies against potentially lethal HIV-1 associated conditions; CD4 cell count; viral load; and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clinical disease stage at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Bereavement support group interventions may prove to be not only a primary therapy for psychologic distress after bereavement but also an adjunctive therapy for sustained control of plasma viral load in conjunction with highly active antiretroviral therapy in this population.
Goodkin
K
K
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136-1045, USA. KGoodkin@med.med.miami.edu
Baldewicz
T T
TT
Asthana
D
D
Khamis
I
I
Blaney
N T
NT
Kumar
M
M
Burkhalter
J E
JE
Leeds
B
B
Shapshak
P
P
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral