Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41152853›Full record

Trial reportAIDS research and therapy2025

Integrated PTSD and adherence treatment for people living with HIV: a feasibility pilot trial for cognitive processing therapy- lifesteps (CPT-L) at a Ryan white clinic.

Cristina M López, Nathaniel Baker, Stephanie Amaya, Erin Bisca, Tayler Wilson, Allison Ross Eckard, Angela Moreland, Patricia A Resick, Steven A Safren, Carla Kmett Danielson

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in AIDS research and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Cristina M LópezDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St. MSC 863, IOP 2- South, Charleston, SC, 29425-1600, USA. lopezcm@musc.edu.
Nathaniel BakerDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon St. Suite 303, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Stephanie AmayaDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St. MSC 863, IOP 2- South, Charleston, SC, 29425-1600, USA.
Erin BiscaDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St. MSC 863, IOP 2- South, Charleston, SC, 29425-1600, USA.
Tayler WilsonDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St. MSC 863, IOP 2- South, Charleston, SC, 29425-1600, USA.
Allison Ross EckardDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue Ste 1217, SC, 29425, Charleston, United States.
Angela MorelandDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St. MSC 863, IOP 2- South, Charleston, SC, 29425-1600, USA.
Patricia A ResickDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2400 Pratt St, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
Steven A SafrenDepartment of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
Carla Kmett DanielsonDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St. MSC 863, IOP 2- South, Charleston, SC, 29425-1600, USA.

Funding

Traumatic Stress Across the Lifespan: A Biopsychosocial Training ProgramT32MH018869 · NIMH · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI CARLA KMETT DANIELSON, DEAN Gaines KILPATRICK · 1988 to 2026
$7.2M
Mentorship and Research in HIV and Addiction Prevention Among Traumatized YouthK24DA039783 · NIDA · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI DANIELSON, CARLA KMETT · 2015 to 2025
$1.9M
Development and Feasibility Testing of an Integrated PTSD and Adherence Intervention Cognitive Processing Therapy-Lifesteps (CPT-L) to Improve HIV OutcomesR34MH125706 · NIMH · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI LOPEZ, CRISTINA M · 2021 to 2023
$679k
NIDA NIH HHS K24 DA039783NIMH NIH HHS R34 MH125706NIMH NIH HHS T32 MH018869
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPeople living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLHIV) have high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which contributes to poor health outcomes. Avoidant behavior, a hallmark feature and overlapping symptom of PTSD and HIV stigma, may undermine antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Few studies have evaluated PTSD treatment effects on HIV outcomes. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based PTSD treatment, can be adapted to address internalized stigma and adherence by reducing avoidance. In alignment with the U = U (Undetectable = Untransmissible) campaign, this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested feasibility of integrating CPT with an adherence intervention (Life-steps; CPT-L) in a Ryan White clinic.

methodsForty-one adults with HIV, PTSD, and suboptimal HIV care (e.g., missed appointments, detectable viral load) were recruited from a South Carolina Ryan White clinic. Participants were randomized 1:1 to CPT-L (n = 20) or Life-steps only (n = 21). Outcomes included PTSD symptoms, HIV stigma, quality of life, viral load, and appointment engagement, assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Analyses used linear regression/ANOVA, with viral load detection examined via Fisher's exact test.

resultsCPT-L participants showed significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptoms (Δ = 11.55, SE = 4.32, p = .01) and HIV stigma (Δ = 22.63, SE = 7.33, p = .006) compared with Life-steps only. Preliminary trends also indicated improved HIV care indicators, including appointment attendance, ART adherence, and viral suppression.

conclusionsIntegrating CPT with adherence counseling reduced PTSD symptoms and HIV stigma, and showed potential to improve HIV outcomes. This innovative approach may advance U = U goals by increasing viral suppression among PLHIV with PTSD.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyHIV InfectionsMedication AdherenceStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultAnti-HIV AgentsFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsSocial StigmaTreatment OutcomeAnti-HIV AgentsAntiretroviral therapyCognitive processing therapyPeople living with HIVPost-traumatic stress disorderStigma

Identifiers

PMID41152853
PMCPMC12570443

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.