Abstract Depression in people living with HIV (PWH) is associated with reduced medication adherence, viral suppression, and retention-in-care. In low-resourced settings, depression interventions are needed for PWH to improve outcomes. We conducted a randomized trial at a large, public HIV clinic. We enrolled PWH who started HIV medications >10) was present in 37% of the intervention group and 38% of the control group. At three months, we found that the percentage of mild depression was significantly lower in the intervention compared to the control (11% (5/47) versus 34% (21/62), p=0.005). By 6 months, depression metrics were not statistically different as depression had resolved in 3% (3/102). The change in PHQ-9 was significantly greater in the intervention group compared to the control group. Group Support Psychotherapy was successful in relieving depression in PWH at three months compared to enhanced usual care. Group Support Psychotherapy can be used in different settings and effectively improves mood in PWH. Further work is needed to adapt psychological interventions to different settings among people with HIV in low- and middle-income settings.
Lofgren et al. (Fri,) studied this question.