THE EFFECT OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR GROUP THERAPY WITH ART AS A MEDIUM ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND ANTIRETROVIRAL MEDICAL ADHERENCEIN MSM WITH HIV INFECTION
Abstract:
This quasi-experimental research study was aimed to examine the effects of Cognitive Behavior Group Therapy (CBGT) with art as a medium on depressive symptoms and antiretroviral medical adherence in HIV infected individuals. Participants were 46 MSM (men who have sex with men) who were diagnosed with HIV infection and were taking antiretroviral medication at the time of study participation. Participants were assigned into an experimental or waitlist control group, 23 participants in each. Those in the experimental group participated in a weekly 2-hour CBT group for 8 weeks, amounting to a total of 16-hour group participation. Measures of depressive symptoms (CES-D) and antiretroviral medical adherences (VAS & MMAS) were administered at pre- and post-study participation. Data obtained were analyzed using repeated-measure and between-group MANOVAs. Findings were as follows:1) The experimental groups scores on depressive symptoms were significantly lower at post-treatment than at pre-treatment (p < .01). At post-treatment, the scores of the experimental group were also significantly lower than those of the control group (p < .001). 2) The experimental groups scores on antiretroviral medical adherence were significantly higher at post-treatment than at pre-treatment (p < .025) on the VAS. However, no changes were observed on the MMAS. Additionally, the post-treatment scores of the experimental and control groups were not significantly different on the two measures.