title: Examining delay discounting of condom-protected sex among opioid-dependent women and non-drug-using control women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opioid-dependent (OD) women tend to engage in unprotected sex with high-risk partners, placing themselves at elevated risk for sexually transmitted HIV infection. This behavior generally persists after completion of interventions that increase sexual HIV risk reduction knowledge and skills, suggesting that decision-making biases may influence HIV transmission among OD women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary aim of this report is to examine delay discounting of condom-protected sex among OD women and non-drug-using control women using the novel Sexual Discounting Task (SDT; Johnson and Bruner, 2012). Data were collected from 27 OD women and 33 non-drug-using control women using the SDT, a monetary discounting task, and the Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS-11).
  
  
  RESULTS
  OD women discounted the value of delayed condom-protected sex more steeply than controls for hypothetical sexual partners in the two sets of paired partner conditions examined. Overall, women discounted condom protected sex more steeply for partners they perceived as being lowest STI risk vs. those they perceived as being highest risk. Steeper discounting of condom-protected sex was significantly associated with higher scores on the BIS-11, but not with discounting of money.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delay discounting of condom-protected sex differs between OD women and non-drug-using women, is sensitive to perceived partner risk, and is correlated with a self-report measure of impulsivity, the BIS-11. The effect of delay on sexual decision-making is a critical but underappreciated dimension of HIV risk among women, and the SDT appears to be a promising measure of this domain. Further investigation of these relationships is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Room 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States. Electronic address: eherrma3@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Evan S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Room 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States; Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Room 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States.
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Room 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States; Department of Medical Biostatistics, University of Vermont, 27D Hills Building, Burlington, VT 05401, United States.
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Room 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Room 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States; Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Room 1415 UHC, 1 S. Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Heil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D065786:Delay Discounting; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Delay discounting; HIV/AIDS; Opioid dependence; Women