Brief Report: Maintenance of Effects of Motivational Enhancement Therapy to Improve Risk Behaviors and HIV-related Health in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Youth Living with HIV

Objective To examine the maintenance of effects of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) shown to improve risk behaviors and viral load in youth living with HIV (YLH) immediately posttreatment. Methods Sixty-five youth (ages 16-25 years) were randomized to Healthy Choices or a waitlist control. Frequency of substance use, frequency of unprotected intercourse, and viral load were obtained at baseline, 3, and 6 months after study entry. The waitlist control then received intervention. An additional data collection was obtained at 9 months for follow-up of the original treatment group. Results One-tailed ANOVA showed that the treatment group had greater reductions in viral load and alcohol use from baseline to 6 months. These reductions appeared to be maintained at 9-month follow-up. Improvements in sexual risk were not evident. Conclusions MET showed significant promise in reducing substance use and in improving HIV-related health in YLH immediately posttreatment. These effects were maintained after treatment termination.