Randomized controlled trial of a positive affect intervention for people newly diagnosed with HIV.
We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine whether IRISS (Intervention for those Recently Informed of their Seropositive Status), a positive affect skills intervention, improved positive emotion, psychological health, physical health, and health behaviors in people newly diagnosed with HIV.



One-hundred and fifty-nine participants who had received an HIV diagnosis in the past 3 months were randomized to a 5-session, in-person, individually delivered positive affect skills intervention or an attention-matched control condition.



For the primary outcome of past-day positive affect, the group difference in change from baseline over time did not reach statistical significance (p = .12, d = .30). Planned secondary analyses within assessment point showed that the intervention led to higher levels of past-day positive affect at 5, 10, and 15 months postdiagnosis compared with an attention control. For antidepressant use, the between group difference in change from baseline was statistically significant (p = .006, d = -.78 baseline to 15 months) and the difference in change over time for intrusive and avoidant thoughts related to HIV was also statistically significant (p = .048, d = .29). Contrary to findings for most health behavior interventions in which effects wane over the follow up period, effect sizes in IRISS seemed to increase over time for most outcomes.



This comparatively brief positive affect skills intervention achieved modest improvements in psychological health, and may have the potential to support adjustment to a new HIV diagnosis. (PsycINFO Database Record
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
Judith T
0000-0002-1399-3318
JT
Moskowitz
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami.
Adam W
AW
Carrico
Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Larissa G
LG
Duncan
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California San Francisco.
Michael A
MA
Cohn
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
Elaine O
EO
Cheung
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California San Francisco.
Abigail
A
Batchelder
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
Lizet
L
Martinez
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
Eisuke
E
Segawa
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco.
Michael
M
Acree
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco.
Susan
S
Folkman
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003376:Counseling; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged