title: Mindfulness-based stress reduction for HIV treatment side effects: a randomized, wait-list controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV offer life-extending benefit; however, the side effects associated with ART use negatively impact quality of life and medication adherence among people living with HIV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study tested the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for reducing ART symptoms and bother/distress related to ART side effects. Secondary aims were to test the impact of MBSR on medication adherence and psychological functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six people living with HIV who were actively taking ART and reported distress from ART-related side effects were randomly assigned to an MBSR program or a wait-list control (WLC) standard care condition. We measured side effects, ART adherence, perceived stress, depression, positive and negative affect, and mindfulness at three time points: baseline, three-month follow-up, and six-month follow-up. Side effects and related distress were assessed separately from other symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with a WLC, participants in the MBSR condition experienced a reduction in the frequency of symptoms attributable to ARTs at three months post-intervention (mean difference=0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.01, 0.66; t(132)=2.04, P=0.044) and six months post-intervention (mean difference=0.38; 95% CI=0.05, 0.71; t(132)=2.27, P=0.025). MBSR participants also experienced a reduction in distress associated with those symptoms at three months post-intervention (mean difference=0.47; 95% CI=0.003, 0.94; t(132)=1.99, P=0.048) compared with the WLC condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBSR is a promising approach for reducing HIV treatment-related side effects.
authors.affiliation: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Larissa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Judith Tedlie
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Moskowitz
authors.forename: Torsten B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Neilands
authors.forename: Samantha E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dilworth
authors.forename: Frederick M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: Mallory O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents