Implementing Cognitive-Behavioral AIDS/HIV Risk Reduction Group Interventions in Community Mental Health Settings That Serve People with Serious Mental Illness

Previous research has found high levels of HIV seroprevalence and risk behavior among people with severe mental illness living in the community. Risk in this population is associated with high prevalence of unprotected sex with multiple, casual, or high-risk sexual partners; high levels of sexual co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychiatric rehabilitation journal 1998, Vol.21 (4), p.394-404
Main Authors: Otto-Salaj, Laura L, Kelly, Jeffrey A, Stevenson, L. Yvonne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AIDS Prevention
Behavior Change
Cognitive Therapy
Community Mental Health Centers
Group Psychotherapy
Health risk assessment
HIV
Human
Human immunodeficiency virus
Mental disorders
Mental health
Psychiatric Patients
Risk Taking
Serious Mental Illness
Urban Environments
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Summary:Previous research has found high levels of HIV seroprevalence and risk behavior among people with severe mental illness living in the community. Risk in this population is associated with high prevalence of unprotected sex with multiple, casual, or high-risk sexual partners; high levels of sexual contact between men with severe mental illness and other men; use of injection drugs or sexual contact within injection drug user (IDU) social networks; elevated rates of alcohol and noninjected drug use, especially the use of crack cocaine and the exchange of sex for drugs; and patterns of "survival sex" to obtain food, money, or a place to stay. A number of theoretical models have been developed to guide HIV risk behavior change interventions. This paper describes the theoretical underpinnings of skills-based HIV risk reduction interventions, and the elements critical to successful HIV risk behavior change as delineated by this model. We then discuss how these elements were operationalized in an HIV prevention intervention successfully implemented in urban community mental health clinics serving people with mental illness. Effective, theory-driven HIV prevention interventions can be successfully incorporated into the daily service life of community-based mental health clinics.
ISSN:1095-158X
1559-3126
DOI:10.1037/h0095283