Document 1002
 DOCN  M94A1002
 TI    A bereavement support group decreases distress in HIV infected gay men.
 DT    9412
 AU    Goodkin K; Blaney NT; Feaster D; Burkhalter J; Leeds B; Tuttle R;
       Fletcher MA; Dept of Psychiatry, Univ of Miami School of Med, FL 33136.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):231 (abstract no. PB0938). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371573
 AB    OBJECTIVE: The impact of a bereavement support group, intervention on
       grief and psychological distress was studied for HIV+ and HIV- gay men
       losing a significant other to AIDS within 6 months. METHODS: HIV+ and
       HIV- subjects were randomly assigned to a semi-structured, 10 week, 1.5
       hours/session group intervention (by serostatus) or a community standard
       of care control group. Therapists are monitored by videotaped ratings
       and by the Group Environment Scale. At baseline and at 10 weeks,
       psychological distress is assessed with the Texas Inventory of Grief
       (TIG), Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Hamilton Depression Rating
       Scale (Ham-D), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (Ham-A). RESULTS:
       Of 104 subjects entered to date, there are data analyzable for 83. Fifty
       are HIV-1+, and 33 are HIV-1-. HIV+'s and HIV-'s were similar in mean
       number of total losses experienced (M = 21.4, and M = 21.0) and over the
       past six months (M = 3.8, and M = 4.1). Of the 79 with CDC staging, 45
       were asymptomatic and 34 were symptomatic (33 were non-AIDS) on entry.
       Multiple distress measures were significantly lower at the end of the
       intervention compared to baseline. Total emotional distress (POMS)
       decreased from a mean of 55.7 to 31.3 for HIV+'s, and from 46.7 to 20.5
       for HIV-'s. For the HAM-D, HIV+'s decreased from 9.2 to 4.4, and HIV-'s
       decreased from 10.2 to 6.1. Anxiety (HARS) also decreased, from a mean
       of 8.2 to 4.2 for HIV+'s, and from 7.9 to 4.1 for HIV-'s. Mean grief
       level (TIG) also decreased from 46 to 38 for HIV+'s, and from 44.2 to
       37.2 for HIV-'s. Preliminary analyses suggest that immune measures may
       improve as well following the intervention. Controls showed some
       decrease in distress measures, though not to the extent of group
       members. DISCUSSION: In summary, though some resolution of grief
       naturally occurs over time, the bereavement support group intervention
       facilitates quicker resolution of grief and associated emotional
       distress. This suggests that a recent loss in an HIV+ individual may be
       an indicator for psychosocial intervention.
 DE    *Bereavement  *Homosexuality  Human  HIV Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY  Male
       Psychological Tests  *Social Support  Stress, Psychological/*PSYCHOLOGY
       CLINICAL TRIAL  MEETING ABSTRACT  RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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