A Review of Psychosocial Factors that Facilitate HIV Infection Among Women Living in Canada & the United States: Implications for Public Health Policy

In Canada and the U.S., HIV infection among women has been associated with mental health symptoms, injection drug use, past trauma history, sexual partner characteristics, gender power inequalities, poverty, racial segregation and health care disparities. The psychosocial needs of women living with HIV often go unmet, facilitating HIV transmission, poor psychiatric outcomes and faster disease progression. Therefore, it is important to understand the complex biological, psychological, social and behavioral factors affecting women living with HIV. This article discusses urban women’s health from a biopsychosocial and behavioral perspective as well as the implications for health care policy and practice that are specific to HIV prevention and intervention

A Review of Efficacious Technology-Based Weight-Loss Interventions: Five Key Components

A qualitative review focusing on articles published in the last 10 years that used an experimental or pre/post-test design and used a technology-based intervention for weight loss was conducted. Five technology-based components—self-monitoring, counselor feedback and communication, social support, use of a structured program, and use of an individually tailored program—were reviewed from 21 studies. Although short-term results have been promising, long-term results have been mixed. The interface of technology and behavior change is an effective foundation of a successful, short-term weight-loss program and may prove to be the basis of long-term weight loss

Does improving mood in depressed patients alter factors that may affect cardiovascular disease risk?

To determine if improvement in mood would ameliorate autonomic dysregulation, HPA dysfunction, typical risk factors and C-reactive protein in depressed patients with elevated cardiovascular disease risk (CVD), 48 depressed participants with elevated cardiovascular risk factors were randomized to a cognitive behavioral intervention (CBT) or a waiting list control (WLC) condition. Twenty non-depressed age and risk-matched controls were also recruited. Traditional risk factors (e.g., lipids, blood pressure) and C-reactive protein were assessed pre- and post-treatment six months later. Subjects also underwent a psychophysiological stress test while cardiovascular physiology was measured. Salivary cortisol was measured during the day and during the psychological stress test. At post-treatment, the CBT subjects were significantly less depressed than WLC subjects. There was no significant difference in change scores on any of the traditional risk factors or C-reactive protein, cortisol measures, or cardiovascular physiology, except for triglyceride levels and heart rate, which were significantly lower in treatment compared to control subjects. The normal controls exhibited no change in the variables measured during the same time. A significant improvement in mood may have little impact on most traditional or atypical risk factors, cortisol or cardiophysiology