PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN TREATMENT WITH LONG-ACTING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY: WHICH PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS ARE ASSOCIATED?

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an important health behaviour linked to a reduced chance of drug resistance and lower viraemia in people living with HIV.Several psychosocial factors seem to be implicated both in adherence behaviour and consequently in the management of HIV disease.For example, psychological distress (anxiety and depression), personality traits, dysfunctional coping strategies seem to be related to both poor adherence behaviour and disease severity.Despite advances in the development of ART, several challenges are associated with current treatment involving daily, lifelong oral pills (i.e., stigma concerns, daily reminders of HIV status, medical problems).Long-acting injectable ART allows reduced dosing frequencies, minimising the impact of forgetfulness and high pill burden.Despite this, few studies have yet addressed the psychosocial aspects associated with this new regimen.Therefore, the aim of the present longitudinal study is to investigate the psychological aspects of people living with HIV (PLWH) making the transition from oral antiretroviral therapy to LA injection therapy.Specifically, the objectives are as follows: a) to carry out a baseline assessment of certain personality characteristics; b) to carry out a longitudinal assessment of medical-clinical and psychological variables; c) to investigate which socio-demographic, clinical and psychological factors are associated with a better quality of life (QoL) and lower levels of anxiety and depression.The study project is aimed at PLWH undergoing treatment at the HIV Infection Outpatient Clinic, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Turin, in Italy.The study was proposed to PLWH who had been identified by the infectious disease physician as eligible for LA therapy since the time of approval by the Hospital Ethics Committee (reference number 0030555).PLWH were asked to complete questionnaires via an online survey during the first administration of LA therapy (T0), during the fourth administration, 5 months later (T1), and during the seventh administration, 11 months later (T2).The data collected include socio-demographic information (e.g.gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status) and clinical information (e.g.date of diagnosis, course of infection, medical comorbidities).Finally, psychological variables (personality traits, alexithymia, social support, locus of control, stigma, quality of life, anxiety, and depression) will be assessed.Investigating which factors are associated with a better QoL is very important in order to structure tailored psychological interventions.Psychological interventions, if carried out in a timely manner, could reduce the risk of psychological distress in the long term, improving psychological adaptation to the disease and promoting ART adherence.