title: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Text Messaging Intervention Versus Medical Management for HIV-Infected Substance Users: Study Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence-based psychosocial interventions for addictions and related conditions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are underutilized. Obstacles to implementation of CBT in clinical settings include limited availability of quality training, supervision, and certification in CBT for clinicians; high rates of clinician turnover and high caseloads; and limited qualifications of the workforce to facilitate CBT expertise.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Mobile phone-based delivery of CBT, if demonstrated to be feasible and effective, could be transformative in broadening its application and improving the quality of addiction treatment. No experimental interventions that deliver CBT targeting both drug use and medication adherence using text messaging have been previously reported; as such, the objective of this study is to develop and test an SMS-based treatment program for HIV-positive adults with comorbid substance use disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  With user input, we developed a 12-week CBT-based text messaging intervention (TXT-CBT) targeting antiretroviral (ART) adherence, risk behaviors, and drug use in a population of HIV-infected substance users.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention has been developed and is presently being tested in a pilot randomized clinical trial. Results will be reported later this year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation will yield valuable knowledge about the utility of a cost-effective, readily deployable text messaging behavioral intervention for HIV-infected drug users.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States. sglasner@ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Suzette
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0329-2670
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glasner-Edwards
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7334-3042
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9127-7440
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ybarra
authors.forename: Cathy J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4375-7452
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Reback
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1180-3119
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rawson
authors.forename: Helene
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0113-0400
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chokron Garneau
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0907-4730
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chavez
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6679-8954
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venegas
keywords: ART; CBT; HIV; SMS; medication adherence; relapse prevention; text messaging