RESUMO
With high rates of trauma among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) who use methamphetamine, this preliminary pilot study examined the associations between experiential avoidance, trauma symptoms, and management of a chronic illness. Among a small sample of HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using MSM in a California Bay Area County, greater reported experiential avoidance was significantly related to greater reported trauma and symptoms of traumatic stress. Furthermore, greater reported experiential avoidance was significantly related to reduced self-efficacy of illness management and more frequent methamphetamine use. Although further research is needed, these data suggest that addressing issues of experiential avoidance and trauma could affect behavioral choices and treatment outcomes in this high-risk population.
Assuntos
Fármacos Anti-HIV/uso terapêutico , Infecções por HIV/complicações , Homossexualidade , Metanfetamina , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/complicações , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/complicações , Adaptação Psicológica , Adulto , Aprendizagem da Esquiva , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Masculino , Metanfetamina/administração & dosagem , Cooperação do Paciente , Projetos Piloto , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Fatores de Risco , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/diagnóstico , Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos/fisiopatologia , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Our aim with this qualitative study was to understand the role of personal values, meaning, and impact of drug use among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) who struggle with methamphetamine use. Participants were 22 MSM recruited from an ethnically diverse county in the San Francisco Bay area of California. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data collected in individual interviews. Emergent constructs of context, meaning, and perceived impact were identified and are described in a theoretical narrative format. The importance of broadening our understanding of HIV and methamphetamine addiction and their interaction is highlighted. This study contributes to the understanding of the complexity of methamphetamine use within the specific population of MSM living with HIV/ AIDS, and suggests possible directions for addressing important maintaining factors like adaptive use and enhancing factors that could contribute to an individual's ability to make better choices based on meaning and personal values.
