Open Trial to Improve Retention in Care for Persons With HIV Who Use Substances

Improving Retention in Care for Persons With HIV Who Use Substances by Increasing Acceptance and Reducing Stigma (Open Trial)

The open trial will examine the feasibility and acceptability of a brief, empirically-supported acceptance-based behavioral therapy intervention to promote retention in care for out-of-care people with HIV who use substances.

The proposed study will adapt a brief, 2-session acceptance-based behavioral therapy (ABBT) intervention to help people with HIV (PWH) who use substances tolerate fears of stigmatization, increase acceptance of HIV status and substance use problems, and increase engagement in care. By conducting an open trial with 15 adults recruited from an HIV primary medical care clinic, the study will focus on the feasibility of recruiting out-of-care PWH and determine the acceptability of the refined ABBT protocol.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. HIV+
2. Meet DSM-5 criteria for one or more of the following substance use disorders, at any severity level: cocaine, methamphetamine, and/or opioid
3. ≥18 years old
4. Poorly retained in care, defined as no attended medical appointment in the past 9 months
5. Able to speak and read English at a level sufficient to complete the study procedures
6. Have telephone access

Exclusion Criteria:

(a) Patients who are cognitively impaired, which will be determined by chart review during screening