PSYCHOSOCIAL GROUP INTERVENTION AND THE RATE OF DECLINE OF IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN ASYMPTOMATIC HIV-INFECTED HOMOSEXUAL MEN

The aim of the study was to determine changes in the rate of decline o f immunological parameters after psychosocial group intervention. Subj ects were 26 asymptomatic HIV-infected homosexual men who participated in a cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBT; n = 14), or an experien tial group therapy program (ET; n = 12), both of 15 weeks duration. Th e outcome measures were changes in the decline of CD4 cell counts, and T cell proliferative responses to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies from preintervention to 24 months postintervention. No differences in the rate of decline of CD4 cells or T cell responses between the CBT and E T condition were found, and there were no significant changes in CD4 c ell count from pre- to postintervention. However, those subjects who s howed larger decreases in distress showed a smaller decline in CD4 cel l counts. While the rate of decline in T cell responses was significan tly less after both interventions, a similar positive change in T cell responses was found in a comparison group of 149 HIV-infected men wit h similar demographic, psychosocial and immunological characteristics who did not participate in one of the interventions. We conclude that the psychosocial intervention programs tested here did not cause chang es in CD4 cell decline or T cell responses and that decreases in distr ess were related to increases in CD4 cell counts.