title: Effects of Lifetime History of Use of Problematic Alcohol on HIV Medication Adherence.
abstract: The effects of previous alcohol abuse on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence have been less studied.
  
  
  
  Participants were randomized to a 3-month group intervention or an individual-enhanced standard-of-care condition and assessed over 6 months. Individual assessment at baseline, 3, and 6 months was done; interviews included lifetime history of problematic alcohol use.
  
  
  
  A total of 80 HIV-positive individuals on ART were recruited. In all, 35% of participants reported a history of problematic alcohol use, 37% had a detectable viral load, 55% were nonadherent, and 24% reporting skipping medication in the previous 3 months. There was no association between a history of problematic use and an adherence at any time point, that is, at baseline (t = -.7, P = .47), midpoint (t = -.39, P = .69), and 6-month follow-up (t = -1.2, P = .23).
  
  
  
  Results suggest that a history of problematic alcohol use may not impact ART adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India amansharma74@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ravinder Kaur
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sachdeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Molecular Neuroendocrinology/Neurotransmitters Laboratories, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Mahendra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nehra
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: HIV; lifetime history; problematic alcohol