Adolescent Impact: A Behavioral Intervention for Adolescents Living With HIV/AIDS

The primary objective of Adolescent Impact is to develop and evaluate a developmentally targeted intervention designed to minimize secondary transmission risk behavior and enhance adherence to care and treatment. The intervention is delivered in 12 sessions (five one-to-one, 7 group) over a 3 month period of time. Intervention is delivered in addition to standard of care treatment at the participant's respective clinic. Participants are randomized to either an intervention or control arm; the control group receives standard of care treatment and control group participants are offered the Adolescent Impact intervention following the completion of the nine-month follow up. It is hypothesized that compared to control group participants, intervention group participants will evidence (1) improved or stable virologic and/or immunologic status, mediated by (a) adherence to prescribed antiretroviral medication and/or (b) adherence to HIV care appointments, and (2) reduction/minimization of secondary transmission risk behaviors to include (a) unprotected sex and/or needle sharing, and (b) sexual and drug use behaviors that increase risk for unprotected sex.

Inclusion criteria

• Confirmed HIV infection
• Followed at one of the participating clinics for HIV care
• Age 13-21 at enrollment (i.e., must be enrolled prior to 22nd birthday)
• Aware of HIV status and, for perinatally infected teens, the HIV status of one's biological mother
• Able to comprehend English well enough to participate in the study
• Able to understand and sign a written informed consent or assent
• Parental or legal guardian consent, if under the age of 18 -

Exclusion criteria

• Less than borderline intellectual functioning, as evidenced by clinician assessment or full scale IQ less than 65
• Acute and severe mental illness (including, but not limited to, psychosis, severe depression, or significant suicidal or homicidal ideation) -