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International Journal of Behavioral Medicine

Published in:

01-04-2017

Psychological Distress Mediates the Effect of Alexithymia on 2-Year Change in HIV Viral Load

Authors: Roger C. McIntosh, Gail Ironson, Michael Antoni, Betty Lai, Mahendra Kumar, Mary Ann Fletcher, Neil Schneiderman

Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2017

Abstract

Purpose

Individuals with trait alexithymia (AL) display poor cognitive assimilation of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This may result in the persistence of stress, anxiety, and depressive disorders. The cumulative effect of this psychological distress is also linked clinical markers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. This study examines the indirect effect of AL on HIV viral load as a function of baseline levels and change in psychological distress.

Methods

N = 123 HIV positive adults aged 37.9 ± 9.2 years provided blood samples for HIV-1 viral RNA and CD4 T lymphocytes along with self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression every 6 months for 2 years. A second-order conditional latent growth model was used to represent baseline and 2-year change in cumulative levels of psychological distress and to test the indirect effect of baseline levels of trait AL on change in HIV-1 viral load through this latent measure.

Results

AL was associated with baseline and latent change in psychological distress. Furthermore, baseline psychological distress predicted 2-year change in HIV-1 viral RNA after controlling for viral load at baseline. Altogether, trait AL had a significant indirect effect on change in viral load (β = 0.16, p = 0.03) as a function of baseline levels of distress.

Conclusion

Identification and communication of thoughts, feelings, and emotions are important for long-term psychological adaptation in HIV. Greater psychological distress, in turn, allows for persistence of peripheral viral replication.

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Title: Psychological Distress Mediates the Effect of Alexithymia on 2-Year Change in HIV Viral Load
Authors: Roger C. McIntosh
Gail Ironson
Michael Antoni
Betty Lai
Mahendra Kumar
Mary Ann Fletcher
Neil Schneiderman
Publication date: 01-04-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Electronic ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-016-9602-7

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Psychological Distress Mediates the Effect of Alexithymia on 2-Year Change in HIV Viral Load

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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