A Trauma-Informed Intervention for the Newly HIV-Diagnosed

Launched by TEMPLE UNIVERSITY · Jun 27, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new kind of support program designed for Black men who have recently been diagnosed with HIV and are experiencing high levels of stress related to trauma. The goal is to help these men stay connected to HIV care and manage their mental health early on, right after their diagnosis. The program includes brief online sessions and personalized text messages to provide encouragement and reduce the burden on participants. This approach aims to improve both their emotional well-being and their ability to keep up with HIV treatment, which is important for staying healthy and preventing the spread of the virus.

Men who might be eligible for this study are those between 18 and 39 years old, who identify as Black or African American, have been diagnosed with HIV within the past three months, and show signs of significant stress from trauma. Participants also need to have a phone that can send and receive text messages and access to a device like a smartphone or computer for online video sessions. Those with serious cognitive issues or psychosis, or who cannot commit to the study’s assessments and sessions, would not be eligible. If you join, you can expect to take part in a few online meetings and receive supportive texts over time, with follow-up check-ins over the next several months to see how you’re doing. This study is not yet recruiting but aims to offer early, practical help to improve both mental health and HIV care for men who face these challenges.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosed with HIV within the past 3 months
• • Self-identification as Black or African American
• • Aged 18-39 years
• • Elevated traumatic stress as indicated by scores above clinical cutoffs on either of the following subscales of the Impact of Event Scale--Revised: Intrusion (score of 5 or greater) and Avoidance (score of 7 or greater)
• • Owning a phone with short-message service or messaging
• • Access to a device with a screen, a web browser, and adequate internet speed for videoconferencing (e.g., smartphone, computer).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Demonstrating cognitive impairment or acute psychosis
• • Reporting unvailability to participate in the Baseline Assessment, the RISE intervention, and 3-, 6, and 9-Month Follow-Up Assessments