Living positive: eHealth for people with HIV and depressive symptoms

Luenen, S. van (2019)

Doctoral Thesis

This dissertation contains the results of an RCT into the effectiveness of an online self-help intervention for people living with HIV (PLWH) and depressive symptoms. Many PLWH suffer from depressive symptoms. Online interventions to treat depression may have benefits, such as less perceived stigma, a large reach and high accessibility. The online self-help intervention that we investigated is based on cognitive behavioral therapy and contains 4 components: stimulating activities, relaxation exercises, changing negative thoughts and goal attainment.
Two meta-analyses were conducted and the results point to the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for PLWH to improve depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, quality of life, psychological well-being, and medication adherence.
The most important result of the RCT was that the intervention together with telephone coaching is effective in reducing depressive symptoms, compared to an attention-only control group. It was also found that the intervention may be effective for all PLWH, regardless of certain baseline characteristics. Furthermore, behavioral activation and goal reengagement were found to be mediators of the intervention effect. Also, the intervention is likely to be cost-effective compared to attention only. As eHealth interventions have benefits compared to face-to-face interventions, they should be more widely implemented in the mental healthcare for PLWH.

• HIV
• Depression
• eHealth
• Self-help
• Online intervention
• Moderator
• Mediator
• Cost-effectiveness
• Coaching
• Cognitive behavioural therapy

• All authors: Luenen, S. van
• Supervisor: Spinhoven, P.
• Co-supervisor: Kraaij, V.; Garnefski, N.
• Committee: Does, A.J.W. van der; Evers, A.W.M.; Rooij, M.J. de; Riper, H.; Wit, J.B.F. de
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University
• Date: 2019-06-26
• ISBN (print): 9789463324953
• Sponsorship: Aidsfonds