Abstract
Psychological distress states have been related to rate of disease progression among HIV-positive individuals. However, the
measures that have been used in this research as well as the treatment context of the populations studied are highly variable,
making it challenging for clinicians to incorporate such measures into screening batteries. The present study examined the
association of two summary scales of the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD; Millon et al., Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic. NCS Assessments, Minneapolis, 2001), with markers of HIV disease status (CD4 and CD8 cell counts, viral load) among an ethnically diverse sample of 147 HIV-positive
individuals (52 men who have sex with men, 34 men who have sex with women, and 51 women) who had recently initiated Highly
Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). After controlling for age and months since HIV diagnosis, we found that higher scores
on the overall MBMD Psych Referral Summary Scale, reflecting a need for mental health treatment, were related to greater HIV
viral load but did not relate to CD4 or CD8 cell counts. Subgroup analyses revealed that Psych Referral scores were related
to greater HIV viral load only for the men who have sex with men (MSM) subgroup. These results suggest that the MBMD may help
in identifying psychosocial characteristics associated with some markers of disease status in persons with HIV and perhaps
may also be useful in identifying individual differences in response to treatment and eventual disease outcome.
measures that have been used in this research as well as the treatment context of the populations studied are highly variable,
making it challenging for clinicians to incorporate such measures into screening batteries. The present study examined the
association of two summary scales of the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD; Millon et al., Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic. NCS Assessments, Minneapolis, 2001), with markers of HIV disease status (CD4 and CD8 cell counts, viral load) among an ethnically diverse sample of 147 HIV-positive
individuals (52 men who have sex with men, 34 men who have sex with women, and 51 women) who had recently initiated Highly
Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). After controlling for age and months since HIV diagnosis, we found that higher scores
on the overall MBMD Psych Referral Summary Scale, reflecting a need for mental health treatment, were related to greater HIV
viral load but did not relate to CD4 or CD8 cell counts. Subgroup analyses revealed that Psych Referral scores were related
to greater HIV viral load only for the men who have sex with men (MSM) subgroup. These results suggest that the MBMD may help
in identifying psychosocial characteristics associated with some markers of disease status in persons with HIV and perhaps
may also be useful in identifying individual differences in response to treatment and eventual disease outcome.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10880-011-9231-x
- Authors
- Caitlin Burbridge, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06268-1020, USA
- Dean G. Cruess, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06268-1020, USA
- Michael H. Antoni, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL USA
- Sarah Meagher, Institute of Advanced Studies in Personology and Psychopathology, Port Jervis, NY USA
- Journal Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
- Online ISSN 1573-3572
- Print ISSN 1068-9583