Abstract
Background. Stress management interventions can reduce symptoms of distress as well as modulate certain immune system components in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These effects may occur in parallel with reductions in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones such as cortisol, which has been related in other work to a down- regulation of immune system components relevant to HIV infection. The present study tested the effects of a multimodal cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels and distressed mood in symptomatic HIV+ gay men. Methods. Symptomatic HIV- infected gay men who were randomized to either a 10-week group-based CBSM intervention or a 10-week wait-list period provided psychological responses and urine samples pre-post intervention. Results. Of the 59 participants providing matched questionnaire data, men assigned to CBSM (n = 40) showed significantly lower posttreatment levels of self-reported depressed affect, anxiety, anger, and confusion than those in the wait-list control group (n = 19). Among the 47 men providing urine samples (34 CBSM, 13 controls), those assigned to CBSM revealed significantly less cortisol output as compared to controls. At the individual level, depressed mood decreases paralleled cortisol reductions over this period across the entire sample. Conclusion. A time-limited CBSM intervention reduced distress symptoms and urinary free cortisol output in symptomatic HIV+ gay men and greater reductions in some aspects of distress, especially depressed mood, paralleled greater decreases in cortisol over the intervention period. If persisting stressors and depressed mood contribute to chronic HPA axis activation in HIV-infected persons, then interventions such as CBSM, which teaches them to relax, alter cognitive appraisals, use new coping strategies, and access social support resources, may decrease distress and depressed mood and normalize HPA axis functioning.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 29-37 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Annals of Behavioral Medicine |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Aug 15 2000 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
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Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces distress and 24-hour urinary free cortisol output among symptomatic HIV-infected gay men. / Antoni, Michael H; Cruess, Stacy; Cruess, Dean G.; Kumar, Mahendra; Lutgendorf, Susan; Ironson, Gail; Dettmer, Elizabeth; Williams, Jessie; Klimas, Nancy; Fletcher, Mary Ann; Schneiderman, Neil.
In: Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Vol. 22, No. 1, 15.08.2000, p. 29-37.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces distress and 24-hour urinary free cortisol output among symptomatic HIV-infected gay men
AU - Antoni, Michael H
AU - Cruess, Stacy
AU - Cruess, Dean G.
AU - Kumar, Mahendra
AU - Lutgendorf, Susan
AU - Ironson, Gail
AU - Dettmer, Elizabeth
AU - Williams, Jessie
AU - Klimas, Nancy
AU - Fletcher, Mary Ann
AU - Schneiderman, Neil
PY - 2000/8/15
Y1 - 2000/8/15
N2 - Background. Stress management interventions can reduce symptoms of distress as well as modulate certain immune system components in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These effects may occur in parallel with reductions in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones such as cortisol, which has been related in other work to a down- regulation of immune system components relevant to HIV infection. The present study tested the effects of a multimodal cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels and distressed mood in symptomatic HIV+ gay men. Methods. Symptomatic HIV- infected gay men who were randomized to either a 10-week group-based CBSM intervention or a 10-week wait-list period provided psychological responses and urine samples pre-post intervention. Results. Of the 59 participants providing matched questionnaire data, men assigned to CBSM (n = 40) showed significantly lower posttreatment levels of self-reported depressed affect, anxiety, anger, and confusion than those in the wait-list control group (n = 19). Among the 47 men providing urine samples (34 CBSM, 13 controls), those assigned to CBSM revealed significantly less cortisol output as compared to controls. At the individual level, depressed mood decreases paralleled cortisol reductions over this period across the entire sample. Conclusion. A time-limited CBSM intervention reduced distress symptoms and urinary free cortisol output in symptomatic HIV+ gay men and greater reductions in some aspects of distress, especially depressed mood, paralleled greater decreases in cortisol over the intervention period. If persisting stressors and depressed mood contribute to chronic HPA axis activation in HIV-infected persons, then interventions such as CBSM, which teaches them to relax, alter cognitive appraisals, use new coping strategies, and access social support resources, may decrease distress and depressed mood and normalize HPA axis functioning.
AB - Background. Stress management interventions can reduce symptoms of distress as well as modulate certain immune system components in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These effects may occur in parallel with reductions in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones such as cortisol, which has been related in other work to a down- regulation of immune system components relevant to HIV infection. The present study tested the effects of a multimodal cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels and distressed mood in symptomatic HIV+ gay men. Methods. Symptomatic HIV- infected gay men who were randomized to either a 10-week group-based CBSM intervention or a 10-week wait-list period provided psychological responses and urine samples pre-post intervention. Results. Of the 59 participants providing matched questionnaire data, men assigned to CBSM (n = 40) showed significantly lower posttreatment levels of self-reported depressed affect, anxiety, anger, and confusion than those in the wait-list control group (n = 19). Among the 47 men providing urine samples (34 CBSM, 13 controls), those assigned to CBSM revealed significantly less cortisol output as compared to controls. At the individual level, depressed mood decreases paralleled cortisol reductions over this period across the entire sample. Conclusion. A time-limited CBSM intervention reduced distress symptoms and urinary free cortisol output in symptomatic HIV+ gay men and greater reductions in some aspects of distress, especially depressed mood, paralleled greater decreases in cortisol over the intervention period. If persisting stressors and depressed mood contribute to chronic HPA axis activation in HIV-infected persons, then interventions such as CBSM, which teaches them to relax, alter cognitive appraisals, use new coping strategies, and access social support resources, may decrease distress and depressed mood and normalize HPA axis functioning.
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M3 - Article
VL - 22
SP - 29
EP - 37
JO - Annals of Behavioral Medicine
JF - Annals of Behavioral Medicine
SN - 0883-6612
IS - 1
ER -