Trial results for Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT) in HIV patients were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-10-14. The ABBT group showed 20 participants meeting retention in HIV medical care guidelines at 52 weeks, compared to 16 in the Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU) control group, out of a total enrollment of 38 participants.
Background
HIV/AIDS requires consistent engagement in medical care and strict adherence to antiretroviral treatment to achieve viral suppression, improve patient health outcomes, and prevent transmission. However, challenges such as maintaining retention in care and achieving virologic suppression persist for many individuals newly diagnosed with HIV. Behavioral interventions, like Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT), are being explored as methods to enhance patients' commitment to medical care and improve these critical health markers.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 38 participants diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The trial investigated Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT), an intervention designed to improve HIV patients' commitment to medical care. Participants were randomized to either the ABBT arm or an Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU) control condition. The overall aim was to test the efficacy of ABBT and examine its mechanisms of action.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements at 52 weeks:
- Number of Participants Meeting Retention in HIV Medical Care Guidelines at 52 Weeks:
- Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT): 20 participants
- Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU): 16 participants
- Number of Participants Who Met HIV Virologic Suppression:
- Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT): 20 participants
- Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU): 14 participants
- Self-Rating Scale Item (SRSI) - Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence (score on a scale):
- Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT): mean 4.5 (Standard Deviation 0.7)
- Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU): mean 4.6 (Standard Deviation 0.7)
- Brief HIV Disclosure Scale (BHD) (units on a scale):
- Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT): mean 21.3 (Standard Deviation 3.2)
- Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU): mean 22.1 (Standard Deviation 4.2)
- The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) (units on a scale):
- Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT): mean 5.8 (Standard Deviation 0.7)
- Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU): mean 5.3 (Standard Deviation 0.9)
- HIV Stigma Scale (HSS) (units on a scale):
- Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT): mean 19.5 (Standard Deviation 4.5)
- Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual (ETAU): mean 21.1 (Standard Deviation 5.0)
What this means
The results suggest that Acceptance-Based Behavior Therapy (ABBT) may be beneficial for newly diagnosed HIV patients, showing a higher number of participants achieving critical clinical outcomes such as retention in medical care and virologic suppression compared to the Enhanced-Treatment-as-Usual group. While self-reported antiretroviral treatment adherence was similar between groups, the ABBT group reported higher perceived social support and lower HIV stigma. These findings indicate ABBT's potential role in improving engagement with care and overall well-being for individuals living with HIV.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04201288, titled "Brief Acceptance-Based Retention Intervention for Newly Diagnosed HIV Patients", were posted on 2025-10-14 on clinicaltrials.gov.