Trajectory of change in anxiety sensitivity in relation to anxiety, depression, and quality of life among persons living with HIV/AIDS following transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy

ABSTRACT

Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) disproportionately suffer from anxiety and depressive symptoms and disorders. Although past work has examined the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression, and to a lesser extent anxiety, among PLHIV, little is known regarding potential mechanisms underlying improvement in anxiety/depression among this group. Anxiety sensitivity is a well-established risk/maintenance factor for anxiety and depressive disorders and is hypothesized to play an important role in maintaining anxiety among PLHIV. Past work has identified anxiety sensitivity as a mechanism of action underlying changes in various anxiety domains yet it is unknown whether changes in anxiety sensitivity relate to changes in anxiety symptoms among PLHIV undergoing transdiagnostic CBT for anxiety. The current study sought to examine treatment-related changes in anxiety sensitivity and how the trajectory of change relates to anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as overall quality of life. Individuals (n = 35) with HIV/AIDS and elevated anxiety symptoms received CBT for anxiety. Results indicated that reductions in anxiety sensitivity were significantly related to changes in anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Together, these data suggest that changes in anxiety sensitivity are significantly related to changes in anxiety/depression and quality of life among PLHIV seeking treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Transdiagnostic
• mechanism
• HIV
• anxiety sensitivity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. A parallel process model was run attempting to estimate the change in anxiety sensitivity in relation to change in cART medication adherence using the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Adherence Assessment (ACTG; Chesney et al., 2000); however, the model did not converge and model fit statistics were not generated. A latent growth curve model examining the trajectory of change in cART medication adherence alone was run; this model did not converge.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health [grant number 1F31MH099922-01A1].