Chartier Maggie, Vinatieri Trisha, Delonga Kathryn, McGlynn Lawrence M, Gore-Felton Cheryl, Koopman Cheryl
Pacific Graduate School of Psychology-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, CA, USA.
J Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic). 2010 Mar-Apr;9(2):78-81. doi: 10.1177/1545109709360065. Epub 2010 Feb 8.
With high rates of trauma among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) who use methamphetamine, this preliminary pilot study examined the associations between experiential avoidance, trauma symptoms, and management of a chronic illness. Among a small sample of HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using MSM in a California Bay Area County, greater reported experiential avoidance was significantly related to greater reported trauma and symptoms of traumatic stress. Furthermore, greater reported experiential avoidance was significantly related to reduced self-efficacy of illness management and more frequent methamphetamine use. Although further research is needed, these data suggest that addressing issues of experiential avoidance and trauma could affect behavioral choices and treatment outcomes in this high-risk population.
