Cognitive–behavioral interventions improve quality of life in women with AIDS

Abstract

Objective: We tested the effects of a 10-week group-based cognitive–behavioral stress management/expressive–supportive therapy intervention (CBSM+) and a time-matched individual psychoeducational condition for 330 women with AIDS reporting moderate to poor baseline quality of life (QOL). The goal of this study was to examine treatment effects on total QOL and 11 QOL domains from baseline to post-intervention follow-up. Methods: Participants were assessed at baseline, randomized to a treatment condition (individual psychoeducation condition n=180, group-based CBSM+ condition n=150), participated in the intervention for 10 weeks and assessed again within 4 weeks following the intervention. QOL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV-30. Results: QOL scores increased over the course of both interventions for the total QOL score and three QOL domains: cognitive functioning, health distress and overall health perceptions. While women in the CBSM+ group condition showed a significant improvement in mental health QOL from pre- to post-intervention, women in the individual condition did not change. No changes were observed for energy/fatigue, health transition, single-item overall QOL, pain, physical well-being, role functioning or social functioning in either condition. Conclusion: Results suggest that group-based CBSM+ and individual psychoeducational interventions are effective at improving certain aspects of QOL and that group-based CBSM+ may be particularly effective at increasing QOL related to mental health in this population of women with AIDS.