Training Psychology and Psychiatry Diversity Dialogue Facilitators.

This article describes a Diversity Dialogue Facilitator Training Program for Trainees, an innovative project that prepares psychology and psychiatry learners to facilitate diversity dialogues with healthcare professionals (i.e., clinical and research faculty, staff, and learners) in academic healthcare settings. Through participating in this program, trainees learn to facilitate discussions in which participants reflect upon oppression, discrimination, and disparities; explore their biases; connect and exchange views with colleagues regarding challenging societal events; and delineate action steps for advancing equity, inclusion, social responsivity, and justice in their professional and personal lives. After outlining contextual factors that informed project development, implementation, and dissemination, the iterative process of creating and implementing the training curriculum is detailed, with the aim of offering a model for other academic health center-based training programs interested in establishing a similar initiative. Lessons learned also are shared with the hope of contributing to future efforts to advance training in diversity dialogue facilitation and expand the role of psychologists in medical settings.

The CARES Program: Improving Viral Suppression and Retention in Care Through a Comprehensive Team-Based Approach to Care for People with HIV and Complex Psychosocial Needs.

Retention in HIV care and viral suppression rates remain suboptimal, especially among people with HIV (PWH) facing complex barriers to care such as mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and housing insecurity. The Center for Adherence, Retention, and Engagement Support (CARES) program utilizes an interdisciplinary team that delivers integrated services in a drop-in setting to provide individualized care to PWH with complex psychosocial needs. We describe the CARES program and evaluate its effectiveness in retaining patients in care to achieve virological suppression. We characterized 119 referrals of PWH experiencing homelessness, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders to CARES between 2011 and 2017, and collected data for a 24-month observation period through 2019. Outcomes of patients who participated in CARES were compared with those who were referred but did not participate. The primary outcome was viral suppression (<200 copies/mL) at least once during 2-year follow-up. Retention in care (≥2 completed medical visits ≥90 days apart in each year post-referral) was a secondary outcome. Of 119 PWH referred to CARES, 59 participated with ≥2 visits. Those who participated in CARES were more likely to achieve viral suppression [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-10.32] and to be retained in care (aOR 3.73, 95% CI 1.52-9.14) compared with those who were referred but did not participate. This analysis found that the CARES program improved retention in care and viral suppression among PWH with complex psychosocial needs and suggests that it may represent a useful model for future programming.

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of 5-HIAA and dopamine in people with HIV and depression.

Depression is a common illness in people with HIV (PWH) and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms that underpin depression in PWH remain incompletely elucidated, and more research is therefore needed to develop effective treatments. One hypothesis is that neurotransmitter levels may be altered. These levels could be influenced by the chronic inflammation and viral persistence that occurs in PWH. We examined a panel of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurotransmitters in PWH on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), many of whom had a current depression diagnosis. CSF monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites were measured from participants in studies at the Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). Only participants on stable ART with suppressed HIV RNA from both plasma and CSF were analyzed. Neurotransmitter levels were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Neurotransmitters and their metabolites included dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA, a major metabolite of dopamine), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA, a major metabolite of serotonin), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol (MHPG, a major metabolite of norepinephrine). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with depression. There were 79 PWH with plasma and CSF HIV RNA levels < 200 copies/mL at the time of the visit, and 25 (31.6%) carried a current diagnosis of depression. Participants with depression were significantly older (median age 53 years versus 47 years, P = 0.014) and were significantly less likely to be African American (48.0% versus 77.8%, P = 0.008). Participants with depression had significantly lower dopamine levels (median 0.49 ng/mL versus 0.62 ng/mL, P = 0.03) and significantly lower 5-HIAA levels (median 12.57 ng/mL versus 15.41 ng/mL, P = 0.015). Dopamine and 5-HIAA were highly correlated. In the multivariable logistic regression models, lower 5-HIAA was significantly associated with the depression diagnosis when accounting for other significant demographic factors. The associations between lower 5-HIAA, lower dopamine, and depression in PWH suggest that altered neurotransmission may contribute to these comorbid conditions. However, the effects of antidepressants on neurotransmitters cannot be ruled out as a factor in the 5-HIAA results.

Multidisciplinary providers' perspectives on engaging young black, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men living with HIV in mental health care services.

Young Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM) living with HIV are at high risk for psychological stressors and comorbidities. We sought to gain the perspectives of multidisciplinary providers (including HIV care, mental health care, and social service providers) on their experiences with engaging YB-GBMSM in mental health care within comprehensive HIV primary care centers that included both types of services on-site. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with fifteen providers in two clinics, and analyzed the qualitative data using a thematic analysis approach. Our participants described high levels of need for mental health services among YB-GBMSM living with HIV, due to psychological challenges related to living with HIV as well as other frequently occurring life stressors. At the same time, barriers to accessing these services were identified, with mental health stigma, under-recognition of symptoms and confidentiality concerns being the most commonly cited. Strategies to improve mental health service uptake in light of these needs and barriers were discussed, including re-framing of mental health services, addressing logistical barriers, and utilization of a biopsychosocial perspective.

Preferences of Young Black Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Regarding Integration of HIV and Mental Health Care Services.

Optimization of mental health service use is critical to HIV care engagement among young Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM). Clinic-level interventions to integrate HIV and mental health services have been proposed; however, patient perspectives on such care models are often lacking. We conducted a mixed-methods study consisting of surveys (N = 100) and qualitative in-depth interviews (n = 15) with YB-GBMSM recruited from two Ryan White-funded HIV clinics in Atlanta, Georgia. Most participants (70%) agreed that integration of HIV and mental health services was beneficial to them. Thirty-six percent (36%) desired a higher level of integration than what they perceived was currently available in their clinic setting, 51% believed their clinic was already optimally integrated, and 13% preferred less integration. In the qualitative interviews, participants discussed their support for potential integration strategies such as training HIV providers to prescribe antidepressants, closer in-clinic proximity of HIV and mental health providers, and use of patient navigators to help patients access mental health care and remind them of appointments. Perceived benefits of care integration included easier access to mental health services, enhanced overall well-being, and improved HIV care engagement. In summary, YB-GBMSM were supportive of integrating HIV and mental health services, with varying individual preferences regarding the degree and operationalization of this integration. Improving integration of mental health and HIV services, and tailoring modes of service delivery to individual preferences, has the potential to improve both general well-being and HIV care engagement in this high priority population.

Burden and Correlates of Mental Health Symptoms Among Young Black Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Engaged in HIV Care in Atlanta.

Mental health comorbidities are prevalent among young Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM) living with HIV and can adversely impact HIV-related outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study with 100 YB-GBMSM recruited from two HIV care centers in Atlanta, and constructed multivariable logistic and linear regression models to examine correlates of depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, and general well-being. In adjusted models, full-time employment was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, while HIV stigma and substance use were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Younger age and full-time employment were negatively associated with severe anxiety, while HIV stigma was positively associated with severe anxiety and trauma symptoms. Trust in physicians, lower HIV stigma, full-time employment, and lack of substance use were associated with higher average general well-being scores. In conclusion, we found high frequency of depressive, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms among this sample of YB-GBMSM living with HIV. Unemployment, substance use, and HIV stigma emerged as particularly salient correlates of psychological morbidity, suggesting a need for structural and community-level interventions to address mental health in this population.

Cognitively Based Compassion Training for HIV Immune Nonresponders-An Attention-Placebo Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic inflammation is associated with increased morbidity and mortality for people with HIV (PWH). Psychological stress is an important contributor to this chronic inflammation. We hypothesized that a cognitively based compassion training (CBCT) approach could reduce inflammation and psychological stress in immune nonresponder PWH. DESIGN: An attention-placebo randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the acceptability of CBCT among PWH and its effects on key aspects of stress and immune function compared with an active-attention control group (NCT02395289). METHODS: This study was conducted at an HIV clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. Eligible individuals determined by (1) adherence to antiretroviral therapy for at least a year, (2) virologic suppression; and (3) stable CD4+ T-cell counts <350 cells/µL were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either CBCT or control in 2 study periods: April-May, 2016, and September-December, 2016. Psychological measures and inflammatory biomarkers associated with HIV disease progression (IL-1ß, TNF-α, sCD14, IL-6, and IL-10) were obtained for all study participants at baseline and at the time of study completion. RESULTS: We found a significant association between CBCT practice time engagement and fold reduction in IL-6 and TNF-α levels. There was no association between CBCT practice time and other biomarkers markers assessed (IL-1ß, sCD14, and IL-10). These changes were coincident with significant increases in self-reported psychological well-being and HIV disease acceptance and in benefits for CBCT participants. We also observed fewer instances of virologic failure for those in the CBCT arm compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: CBCT is a novel and feasible nonmedication-based intervention that could reduce inflammation and psychological stress in PWH.

Promoting resilience in persons with serious mental health conditions during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This article highlights the profound and far-reaching impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis on persons with serious mental health conditions. To understand and mitigate against the negative effects of the crisis on this population, we offer a resilience intervention framework that attends to three key resilience processes, namely control, coherence, and connectedness (3Cs). We then detail interventions and associated evidence-informed intervention strategies at the individual, interpersonal, and systemic levels that behavioral health professionals can employ to bolster each of the 3Cs for persons with serious mental health conditions. These intervention strategies, which must be implemented in a flexible manner, are designed to enhance the biopsychosocial functioning of persons with serious mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond and strengthen their interpersonal and systemic environments. We conclude with recommendations for future directions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental Health Service Utilization Among Young Black Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in HIV Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Young Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YB-GBMSM) face multiple psychosocial stressors, and are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Mental health care engagement is a promising avenue for addressing these disparities. To date, rates of mental health service utilization have not been examined specifically in this population. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among YB-GBMSM receiving care in a Ryan White-funded HIV care center that includes co-located HIV and mental health services. Of 435 unique YB-GBMSM patients, mental health concerns were identified in n = 191 (43.9%). Depressive symptoms were the most common concerns identified, followed by substance use, anxiety, and trauma. Among patients with identified mental health concerns who were not previously in mental health care, 79.1% were referred to mental health care, 56.3% set an appointment with a mental health provider, 40.5% were linked to mental health care (attended an initial visit), and 19.6% remained engaged in mental health care. Younger YB-GBMSM (age 18-24 years), who received care in a more integrated pediatric/adolescent part of the center, were more likely to have an appointment set once a concern was identified (χ2 = 7.17; p = 0.007). Even in a setting with co-located HIV and mental health care services, we found significant gaps in engagement at each stage of a newly described mental health care continuum. Implications for intervention at the provider and systems levels are discussed.

Barriers and facilitators to implementation of trauma support services at a large HIV treatment center in the Southern United States.

The high prevalence of trauma among people living with HIV underscore the need for tailored, integrated trauma management ("trauma-informed care" or TIC) to improve retention, adherence to care, and overall well-being. Although TIC has been identified as a priority area for HIV care, uptake has been limited. To investigate barriers and facilitators to integrating trauma support services within HIV primary care, surveys (n=94) and interviews (n=44) were administered to providers, staff, and patients at a large HIV treatment center. Results highlighted the availability of several trauma services, including psychotherapy and support groups, but also revealed the absence of provider training on how to respond to patient trauma needs. Identified gaps in TIC services included written safety and crisis prevention plans, patient education on traumatic stressors, and opportunities for creative expression. Providers and staff supported implementation of trauma support services and employee trainings, but expressed a number of concerns including resource and skill deficiencies. Patient-reported barriers to TIC services included lack of awareness of services and difficulties navigating the healthcare system. This assessment revealed support and methods for strengthening integration of trauma support services within HIV primary care, which future TIC implementation efforts should address.

Flattening the emotional distress curve: A behavioral health pandemic response strategy for COVID-19.

This article proposes a framework for managing the behavioral health impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This framework aligns and should be integrated with an existing public health pandemic intervals model. It includes six phases of a behavioral health pandemic response strategy: preplanning, response readiness, response mobilization, intervention, continuation, and amelioration. The ways behavioral health specialists can capitalize on their competence in the leadership, prevention, education, service, research, and advocacy domains within each behavioral health pandemic response phase are articulated. Behavioral health expertise can help ensure a more comprehensive, effective pandemic response that facilitates the flattening of the curve of disease spread, along with the corresponding emotional distress curve. A case illustration, the Caring Communities (CC) initiative, is offered as an exemplar of action steps in the leadership, prevention, education, service, research, and advocacy domains that behavioral health professionals can take within each of the behavioral health pandemic response phases. Key CC action steps include providing support groups, offering virtual wellness breaks, participating in educational outreach, creating and disseminating wellness guides, launching and leading a virtual behavioral health clinic for health care staff, participating in behavioral health research and program evaluation, and engaging in advocacy initiatives aimed at improving behavioral health care and addressing and reducing health disparities. Finally, recommendations for optimizing behavioral health contributions to future pandemic responses are proffered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Increased Retention in Care After a Palliative Care Referral Among People Living With HIV.

BACKGROUND: Early palliative care addresses biopsychosocial needs for people living with HIV in an outpatient setting. We sought to describe patients referred to a palliative care program and compare the medical outcomes of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, primary care visits, and viral load suppression among patients enrolled in the program, to patients who did not enroll (no-show group). SETTING: We completed a retrospective cohort study at an urban, academically affiliated HIV primary care clinic. METHODS: Data were collected from electronic medical records. Descriptive statistics characterized patient demographics at baseline, comorbidities, and reasons for referral to palliative care. Viral load suppression, rates of ED visits, hospitalizations, primary care visits, and retention in care were compared between the palliative and no-show groups. RESULTS: The most common reasons for referral were chronic pain management and medication/appointment adherence. Median percent of viral load measurements suppressed increased over time, but did not differ statistically between groups (pre: 28.6% and 15.5%, post: 70.8% and 50.0%, palliative and no-show groups, respectively). Median rates of ED visits and hospitalizations were low and were not impacted by palliative care. Rates of primary care visit attendance remained stable in the palliative group (4.6/year) but declined in the no-show group (3.5/year), P < 0.05. Retention in care improved significantly after the palliative intervention (palliative: 85.4%-96.1%, no-show: 94.4%-82.5%), and at high and low palliative engagement, suggesting a threshold effect of the intervention. CONCLUSION: Outpatient early palliative care is a promising intervention that might impact retention in HIV care.

Learning to be interprofessional advocates in the public sector.

Engaging in advocacy is an ethical responsibility for behavioral health professionals, as reflected in professional competencies across disciplines and in personal accounts of wanting to affect change at various levels of patients'/clients' and communities' ecologies. However, the literature is replete with examples of barriers to routine advocacy engagement, including lack of an organized structure into which efforts can be embedded. There exists the desire among behavioral health professionals to engage in more advocacy work, yet a shared sense of not knowing how to incorporate this work into existing professional roles. One way to address these barriers is to establish more collaborative advocacy work environments within the public sector settings that employ behavioral health professionals. This article offers the first descriptive account of developing, implementing, and maintaining such a collaborative interprofessional advocacy workgroup. To that end, this case study is one example of such a group, the Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates, based within the Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and situated also within Grady Health System, a public health care system. This paper details our experiences forming and engaging in this group, which we believe can serve as a model for others developing similar advocacy workgroups in public sector settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Metropolitan Atlanta Community Adolescent Rapid Testing Initiative: The impact of motivational interviewing and intensive case management on the psychosocial and clinical care outcomes of adolescents and young adults with HIV.

Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing HIV-related complications and transmission for adolescents and young adults with HIV. The Metropolitan Atlanta Community Adolescent Rapid Testing Initiative (MACARTI) was a single-center, prospective, nonrandomized, interventional control group study incorporating motivational interviewing psychotherapy strategies with community outreach, HIV testing, and intensive case management. This substudy of MACARTI examined how the motivational interviewing and case management components influenced psychological distress, proactive coping, HIV/AIDS stress, and HIV stigma in association with HIV disease markers (HIV viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts). Ninety-eight adolescents and young adults with HIV (Mage = 21.5 ± 1.8, range 18-24) were allocated to either the standard of care (n = 49) or MACARTI (n = 49) arms, and results were compared between these two groups. Baseline and follow-up surveys measured psychological distress, proactive coping, HIV/AIDS stress, and HIV stigma. MACARTI arm assignment was associated with statistically significant reductions in psychological distress (p = .016), HIV/AIDS stress (p = .023), and the use of more reflective coping (p = .016) and strategic planning strategies (p = .001) during the first 6 months. These results did not remain significant at 1-year follow-up but may still provide support for the integration of psychotherapy strategies into HIV identification, linkage, and retention efforts in the future. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

An intersectionality-informed psychotherapy approach to reduce HIV stigma.

HIV stigma represents a major barrier across the continuum of HIV care that is associated with compromised engagement and retention in HIV care along with adherence to antiretroviral treatment. Therefore, stigma reduction efforts are critical to improving HIV health outcomes. However, there is no gold-standard evidence-based psychotherapy intervention for addressing stigma related to HIV or other marginalized identities. This article examines the role of psychotherapy to address the adverse cognitive, emotional, and behavioral effects of HIV stigma among persons with HIV, with the aims of promoting psychological well-being and supporting health behaviors associated with enhanced HIV treatment retention, adherence, and overall health outcomes. A psychotherapy approach informed by intersectionality theory is proposed, according to which multiple categories of identity, social status, privilege, and oppression simultaneously influence psychological life, including the experience of HIV stigma. Intersectionality-informed psychotherapy strategies to address HIV stigma are described and illustrated using a hypothetical clinical case example. Implications of an intersectionality-informed framework for therapist advocacy also are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Picture Pill Count: An Innovative, Reliable, Valid and Feasible Method to Measure Adherence to ART.

We report the reliability, validity, and feasibility of self-performed picture pill count (PPC) as an adherence measure that was used in a randomized trial with HIV positive people living in rural Georgia. The first 61 (of 149) participants conducted an additional PPC 1-2 days after baseline. Reliability, measured by a PPC scoring instrument, analyzed participants' ability to reproduce high quality pill count photographs free from artifact or blurring that could hamper accurate visualization of the pills and bottle labels. Except for label blur, baseline photographs (performed with coaching by study staff) and independently performed post-baseline photographs were rated as acceptable quality (> 93%). Label blur significantly worsened between the baseline and post-baseline scoring (93% vs 80%, p = 0.039), possibly indicating that participants required more education to ensure readability. Validity was determined by comparing the number of pills entered into the PC survey with the number of pills in the texted PPC; 77.5% of participants had perfectly matched pill counts (r = 0.690, p < 0.001). We found PCC to be a reliable and valid method of measuring adherence. The high rate of participant satisfaction underscores its feasibility. It provides an innovative alternative to other more invasive and labor intensive methods of measuring adherence using pill counts.

Retention in HIV care depends on patients' perceptions of the clinic experience.

Institutional barriers in HIV primary care settings can contribute substantially to disparities in retention in HIV treatment and HIV-related outcomes. This qualitative study compared the perceptions of clinic experiences of persons living with HIV (PLWH) in a Veterans Affairs HIV primary care clinic setting who were retained in care with the experiences of those who were not retained in care. Qualitative data from 25 in-depth interviews were analyzed to identify facilitators and barriers to retention in HIV care. Results showed that participants not retained in care experienced barriers to retention involving dissatisfaction with clinic wait times, low confidence in clinicians, and customer service concerns. For participants retained in care, patience with procedural issues, confidence in clinicians, and interpersonal connections were factors that enhanced retention despite the fact that these participants recognized the same barriers as those who were not retained in care. These findings can inform interventions aimed at improving retention in HIV care.

Psychology in patient-centered medical homes: Reducing health disparities and promoting health equity.

With persisting health disparities contributing to a disproportionate impact on the health and well-being of socially disenfranchised and medically underserved populations, the emerging patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model offers promise in bridging the health disparities divide. Because behavioral health care is an important component of the PCMH, psychologists have significant opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of PCMH services in settings that primarily serve medically underserved communities. In this article, after briefly defining the PCMH model and its role in clinical settings for medically underserved populations for whom health disparities are present, roles of psychologists as interprofessional collaborators on PCMH medical care teams are explored. Next, the constellation of competencies that position psychologists as behavioral health specialists to contribute to PCMH care teams for medically underserved groups are characterized. The article concludes with reflections on the prospects for psychologists to make tangible contributions as health care team members toward reducing health disparities and promoting health equity in patients served in the PCMH. (PsycINFO Database Record

Meeting evolving workforce needs: Preparing psychologists for leadership in the patient-centered medical home.

Behavioral health integration in the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) offers opportunities for psychologists to play leadership roles. Widespread practice transition to PCMH models of care are expected to substantially impact the psychology workforce. Conservative estimates suggest that approximately 90% of the 93,000 clinically trained psychologists would be required to meet projected need in these settings. This has implications for how health service psychologists are trained. In addition to relevant clinical competencies, they must be versed in system/program development, administration, evaluation, quality improvement, and interprofessional collaboration. Herein, the need to introduce psychologists to the many potential roles in the PCMH is underscored. Inherent to effective work in the PCMH is the synthesis of professional competences in addition to those traditionally included in psychology training. We offer a competency-based PCMH training framework adapted from levels of intensity in the Education and Training Guidelines: A taxonomy for education and training in professional psychology health service specialties (American Psychological Association, 2012). Practical examples of training activities, taking into account available programmatic resources, also are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record

An Exploratory Study to Assess Individual and Structural Level Barriers Associated With Poor Retention and Re-engagement in Care Among Persons Living With HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Retention in care is the most challenging step along the HIV care continuum. Many patients who engage in care and achieve viral suppression have care interruptions, characterized by moving in and out of care ("churn"). Poor retention has clinical consequences and contributes to new HIV transmissions, but how to predict or prevent it remains elusive. This study sought to understand the relationship between individual- and structural-level barriers, and poor retention for persons living with HIV/AIDS in Atlanta, GA. METHODS: We administered a survey, through interviews, with HIV-infected patients continuously retained in care for 6 years ("continuously retained," n = 32) and patients with recent gaps in care ("unretained" n = 27). We assessed individual-level protective factors for successful engagement (self-efficacy, resilience, perceived social support, and disclosure), risk factors for poor engagement (substance use, mental illness, and stigma), and structural/systemic-level barriers (financial and housing instability, transportation, food insecurity, communication barriers, and incarceration history). Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the 2 populations. RESULTS: Both continuously retained and unretained populations had high rates of prior viral suppression but few unretained patients were virologically suppressed upon return to care (11%). Younger age, crack cocaine use, food insecurity, financial instability, housing instability, and phone number changes in the past year were significantly more likely to be present in the unretained population. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the need for targeted risk assessment tools to predict the highest-risk patients for poor retention whereby public health interventions can be directed to those individuals.