Developing a Therapy for Mental Health and HIV Care in South Africa
Tests a new therapy for adults with HIV facing depression and hardship.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Intervention Development for Syndemics Among PWH in SA
Key facts
- Where
- Cape Town, South AfricaSee the site
Where in South Africa
- University of Cape TownCape Town, South AfricaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT06152003
- Record updated
- 9 September 2026
- Original description
In South Africa, the country with the highest HIV prevalence (19%), co-occurring problems such as depression, post-traumatic stress, and food insecurity interact to enhance one another (i.e., syndemic problems) and are associated with worse HIV outcomes such as worse antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and worse viral load. This study proposes to: 1) explore how syndemic problems work together to make health worse for people with HIV (PWH) and explore what people think about a potential treatment; 2) develop a treatment to address syndemic problems and improve ART adherence (CBT-SA); 3a) assess whether people are willing to receive the CBT-SA we it can actually be done; and 3b) identify factors that make it easier or more difficult to receive CBT-SA.Read full original descriptionShow less
Developing and Piloting a Multilevel Intervention to Address Psychosocial and Structural Syndemics in People With HIV in South Africa
In South Africa, the country with the highest HIV prevalence (19%), co-occurring problems such as depression, post-traumatic stress, and food insecurity interact to enhance one another (i.e., syndemic problems) and are associated with worse HIV outcomes such as worse antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and worse viral load. This study proposes to: 1) explore how syndemic problems work together to make health worse for people with HIV (PWH) and explore what people think about a potential treatment; 2) develop a treatment to address syndemic problems and improve ART adherence (CBT-SA); 3a) assess whether people are willing to receive the CBT-SA we it can actually be done; and 3b) identify factors that make it easier or more difficult to receive CBT-SA.
Inclusion: Patient receiving HIV care in Khayelitsha (confirmed by medical record); Currently prescribed TDF-based ART, with recent difficulties with ART adherence (self-reported in past 30 days / confirmed by pharmacy refill data); Mild, moderate, or severe food insecurity (measured by HFIAS categories) AND ≥1 of the following:; Clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16); Clinically significant post-traumatic stress symptoms (SPAN ≥ 5); 18 years of age or older.
Exclusion: In the past year: received CBT for depression or PTSD, or received supplemental food parcels or nutritional counseling; Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent; Current untreated or undertreated serious mental health issue that would interfere with participation.