A Short-term Psychological Intervention for People Living with HIV During the First Wave of COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• COVID-19 has caused widespread psychosocial distress.
• Individuals aging with HIV are a vulnerable population facing unique health challenges.
• The pandemic presents a new infectious threat to the wellbeing of people with HIV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe supportive and cognitive-behavioral interventions for individuals aging with HIV experiencing COVID-19 related distress.
• To present data on changes in distress levels within this case series.
• To provide a model for identifying at-risk groups and implementing timely psychological interventions during crises.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal observational study design.
• Identification of participants with heightened distress requiring clinical intervention.
• Description of individualized supportive and cognitive-behavioral interventions.
• Case series data collection on distress changes.

Main Results:

• A subset of middle-aged and older adults living with HIV reported heightened distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Provided interventions led to measurable changes in distress levels.
• The study successfully identified individuals in need of psychological support.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive-behavioral interventions are effective in mitigating COVID-19 related distress among people aging with HIV.
• An individualized clinical response model can be safely delivered during health crises.
• This approach can be adapted for future public health emergencies.