Evidence-based interventions targeting mental health problems in adolescents living with HIV: A scoping review

Adolescents living with HIV are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health challenges, impacting their overall well-being and treatment adherence. Evidence-based interventions are crucial to addressing these issues; however, the effectiveness remains unclear. This scoping synthesised all interventions that tested either the prevention or improvement of mental health for adolescents living with HIV. Potential articles were searched up to September 2024 in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase and Cochrane to identify RCTs evaluating mental health interventions for HIV-infected adolescents. 13/1015 studies were selected, with diverse sample sizes from 21 to 842 participants aged 15–19 years (females: a maximum of 66%). Follow-up intervention periods ranged from 1 to 48 months. Interventions showed mixed effectiveness in improving mental health outcomes. Six studies reported a reduction in depression symptoms compared to no difference/no favourable results in the remaining studies. The emotional or behavioral symptoms were reduced in four studies, versus no difference in the other studies. Two out of four studies showed the effectiveness of trauma intervention. A mixed result needs to be confirmed in future RCTs. This review provides valuable insights into improving the mental health of HIV-infected adolescents and can guide further research and practice in this area.

• Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
  • Determinants of Health
• Determinants of Health
  • Social support
  • Stigma/discrimination
• Population(s)
  • Children or Youth (less than 18 years old)
  • General HIV+ population
• Mental Health
  • Depression
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Other
• Health Systems
  • Delivery arrangements