Telephone-delivered motivational interviewing targeting sexual risk behavior reduces depression, anxiety, and stress in HIV-positive older adults.

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the secondary benefits of HIV risk reduction interventions to improve mental health functioning.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of telephone-delivered motivational interviewing (MI) targeting sexual risk behavior to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in HIV-positive older adults.

METHODS

Participants were 100 HIV-positive adults 45+ years old enrolled in a sexual risk reduction pilot clinical trial of telephone-delivered MI. Participants were randomly assigned to a one-session MI, four-session MI, or standard of care control condition. Telephone interviews at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up assessed sexual behavior, depression, anxiety, and stress.

RESULTS

Relative to controls, participants in the one- and four-session MI conditions reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress at 6-month follow-up. No between group differences were observed at 3-month follow-up or between one- and four-session MI participants at 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary data suggest that telephone-delivered MI to reduce sexual risk behavior may confer secondary benefits of improving mental health functioning in HIV-positive persons.