NCT02395289

Cognitive-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) for People Living With HIV (PLHIV)

The Efficacy of Cognitive-Based Compassion Training for Enhancing Immune Restoration and Psychological Adaptation in Individuals Living With HIV Disease

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 54 (actual)
• Sponsor: Emory University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of cognitive-based compassion training (CBCT), a meditative practice based on Buddhist teachings, on long term emotional well-being and immune system improvement with people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV).

Detailed description

The proposed study will investigate the efficacy of cognitive-based compassion training (CBCT), a contemplative technique based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of compassion meditation, for enhancing immune restoration and psychological resilience in people living with HIV-1 (PLHIV). Psychosocial stress has been associated with increased circulating concentrations of key inflammatory biomarkers. The patients with HIV must cope with the physical impact of HIV disease itself, the often complex treatment regimens and side effects of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), illness-associated psychological and existential dilemmas, changes in social roles and lifestyle patterns relative to illness progression, social stigma, and financial and material resource concerns. This study aims to determine if engagement with CBCT is associated with reduced circulating concentrations of stress-related inflammatory biomarkers, improves HIV-related clinical outcomes and decreases stress in PLHIV.

Conditions

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive-Based Compassion Training (CBCT)	Cognitive-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) is composed of secular, didactic instruction and meditation practices. CBCT includes the meditative practices of developing one-pointed concentration and mindfulness. CBCT will be one class per week, 2 hours each, for 8 weeks, for a total of 16 hours during the study. Each meditation class will include a didactic and discussion session that will describe the meditative technique introduced during the week and a practice meditation session. The training protocol is highly iterative and techniques introduced early in training are practiced daily. All participants will be asked to meditate approximately 30 minutes a day "at home" and will be given a meditation diary to record amount of time spent meditating per week.
BEHAVIORAL	Health discussion	Health discussion therapy is one class per week, 2 hours each, for 8 weeks. Each class will use interactive teaching methods to present the health material in an engaging and relevant manner. Representative weekly topics that will be covered include healthy diet, the role of exercise in emotional health, and the importance of sleep and relaxation. It is important to note that the material presented in the health discussion group, although intended to be beneficial to participants, does not include a contemplative component and is not iterative in nature.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-03-01
• Primary completion: 2016-12-01
• Completion: 2016-12-01
• First posted: 2015-03-23
• Last updated: 2017-02-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States