Narrative Therapy for HIV

Overseen By Danielle C Chang, BA

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Washington

Disqualifiers: Urgent mental health, Informed consent

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a type of talk therapy called narrative therapy for people living with HIV. The goal is to determine if a single, one-hour session improves mental health and integrates well into a primary care setting. Participants should be clinic patients on the therapy waitlist who can complete the session and surveys in English. The trial aims to discover if this therapy can serve as a practical mental health support option for those with HIV. As an unphased trial, it offers patients the chance to explore a potentially beneficial mental health support option tailored for those living with HIV.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What prior data suggests that this narrative therapy is safe for people living with HIV?

Research has shown that single-session interventions (SSIs) are generally safe and well-tolerated. A review of 50 studies found that SSIs significantly reduced mental health issues in young people without causing harmful effects, indicating a low risk of negative side effects.

Single-session narrative therapy, like the one used in this study, is a short form of talk therapy designed to fit easily into busy schedules. Previous studies have demonstrated that these brief sessions can improve mental health without major safety concerns.

Overall, the evidence suggests that single-session narrative therapy is safe for participants, with minimal risk of negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for HIV focus on managing the virus with antiretroviral therapy, but narrative therapy takes a different approach by addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of living with HIV. This innovative treatment involves a single 60-75 minute session with a trained therapist, aiming to help patients reshape their life stories and improve their mental well-being. Researchers are excited about this approach because it offers a potentially powerful and time-efficient way to enhance patients' quality of life and mental health alongside their medical treatment.

What evidence suggests that this therapy might be an effective treatment for HIV?

Research has shown that single-session interventions (SSIs), such as narrative therapy, can effectively improve mental health. A review of 50 studies found that SSIs significantly reduced mental health issues compared to regular care. Although specific research on single-session narrative therapy for people with HIV remains limited, SSIs have shown promise in improving outcomes for this group. These improvements include a greater willingness to get tested and enhanced mental well-being. This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of a single-session narrative therapy intervention for people living with HIV, suggesting it could improve mental health outcomes in this population. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Akansha Vaswani-Bye

Principal Investigator

University of Washington

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with substance use disorders, mental health issues, and HIV/AIDS. It aims to help those who need quick access to behavioral health services in a primary care setting.

Inclusion Criteria

Have agreed to participate in the single session intervention

Ability to complete the research survey or interview in English.

I am 18 years or older and a patient at the specified clinic.

Exclusion Criteria

Inability to provide informed consent

Inability to provide informed consent

Non-referring providers

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Single Session Intervention

Participants receive a single 60-75 minute narrative therapy session with a trained licensed behavioral health provider

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for acceptability, feasibility, and clinical impact of the intervention

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Single Session Narrative Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests single-session narrative therapy's suitability and practicality over six months in an integrated clinic for people living with HIV.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Single Session Narrative Therapy Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A single 60-75 minute narrative therapy session with a trained licensed behavioral health provider will be offered to patients on the psychotherapy waitlist of an HIV primary care clinic.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Washington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,858

Recruited

2,023,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40750727/

Single-Session Interventions To Enhance HIV Outcomes ... While evidence shows SSIs reduce sexual risk behaviors and enhance mental health, their combined impact on both areas has not yet been reviewed.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06479980

NCT06479980 | Single Session Narrative Therapy Study This pilot research study will provide timely access to behavioral health services through the provision of a single-session narrative therapy intervention.

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/394218576_Single-Session_Interventions_To_Enhance_HIV_Outcomes_among_Adolescents_and_Young_Adults_A_Systematic_Scoping_Review_and_Implications_for_Integrating_HIV_and_Mental_Health_Services

Single-Session Interventions To Enhance HIV Outcomes ... A systematic search of databases through August 2024 identified 21 SSIs that included HIV-related outcomes, such as intentions to test, improvements in HIV ...

4. osf.io osf.io/aqr54_v1/

Single-Session Interventions to Enhance HIV Outcomes A systematic search of databases through August 2024 identified 21 SSIs that included HIV-related outcomes—such as intentions to test, ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/health-services/articles/10.3389/frhs.2022.997406/full

Harnessing the Single-Session Intervention approach to ... In a meta-analysis of 50 randomized trials, SSIs significantly reduced youth mental health problems, relative to their respective controls, with effect sizes ...

6. liebertpub.com liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/apc.2024.0237

Telehealth Interventions to Improve HIV Care Continuum ... We searched the literature for recent (2019–2023) telehealth interventions designed to improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum.

7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK410223/

Systematic narrative review and meta-analysis Data on the following outcomes were sought: Behavioural: approaches which are known to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition; condom use across all time periods; ...