Community-level HIV prevention for persons with severe mental illness living in supportive housing programs: a pilot intervention study.
Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) are at risk for HIV/AIDS. Despite the availability of supportive community programs for those with SMI, there have been no published evaluations of community-level HIV prevention trials among this population. A pilot intervention trial was conducted to determine the feasibility of such an intervention in supportive housing programs (SHPs). A multi-component community-level trial was implemented in two SHPs with a total of 28 residents. Participants completed assessments at three time points: prior to the intervention (baseline), following skills training (post-assessment), and following the 4-month community intervention (follow- up). Results demonstrated significant improvements in psychosocial risk factors at both post- and follow-up assessments, with indications of sexual behavior change at follow-up. The community-level intervention appeared to reduce the risk of HIV among persons with SMI living in SHPs, and supports the importance of conducting larger scale intervention trials.
Sikkema
Kathleen J
KJ
Division of Prevention and Community Research and The Consultation Center, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 389 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. kathleen.sikkema@yale.edu
Meade
Christina S
CS
Doughty-Berry
Jhan D
JD
Zimmerman
Susan O
SO
Kloos
Bret
B
Snow
David L
DL
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003237:Connecticut; D005260:Female; D016352:Group Homes; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013808:Therapeutic Community