Waitlist-controlled trial of an online intervention to address mental health among older people living with HIV.
Jeff Berko, Peter Mazonson, Duncan Short, Maile Karris, Lynsay Ehui, Cassidy A Gutner, Frank Spinelli, Andrew Zolopa
Antiviral therapy December 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1177/13596535231216311 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA waitlist-controlled trial of online audio mindfulness lessons for older people living with HIV found that after 25 days, symptoms of depression improved by 20.3% and anxiety by 22.4% compared to a control group. Improvements in loneliness were not statistically significant. Among participants with elevated baseline symptoms, depression improved by 26.3%, anxiety by 25.6%, and daily loneliness by 18.9%, all with moderate effect sizes. The intervention appears to offer accessible mental health relief for this population.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Waitlist-controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 214 |
| Population | Older people living with HIV |
| Intervention | online audio mindfulness lessons |
| Duration | 25 days |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key finding | Online audio mindfulness lessons significantly improved symptoms of depression and anxiety but not loneliness among older people living with HIV. |
Abstract
Background: Older people living with HIV (PLWH) often experience elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.Methods: This waitlist-controlled trial examined the effectiveness of online audio mindfulness lessons in impacting these feelings among older PLWH.Results: Among 214 participants, the mean (SD) age was 60.4 (5.9) years, 89% were male, and 69% were white. After 25 days, the intervention group showed significant improvements versus the waitlist control group in symptoms of depression (20.3% improvement, p < .01) and symptoms of anxiety (22.4% improvement, p = .03), but not in loneliness as measured by a Daily Diary (12.9% improvement, p = .07) or the 3-Item Loneliness Scale (4.8% improvement, p = .27). Secondary analyses among participants with elevated baseline symptoms of depression showed a 26.3% improvement (p < .01), with a moderate effect size (Hedge's g = 0.69). Similarly, those with elevated baseline symptoms of anxiety showed a 25.6% improvement (p < .01), a moderate effect size (g = 0.54), while those with moderate or severely elevated loneliness showed an 18.9% improvement in daily loneliness (p < .01), a moderate effect size (g = 0.55).Conclusion: This waitlist-controlled trial is the first to show that a series of brief, online audio mindfulness lessons improves mental health outcomes among older PLWH. For many patients, this intervention may offer relief that is both accessible and affordable.