Sex, Drugs, and Impulse Regulation: A Perspective on Reducing Transmission Risk Behavior and Improving Mental Health Among MSM Living With HIV

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Rachel M. Arends¹  Thom J. van den Heuvel¹  Eline G. J. Foeken-Verwoert⁵  Karin J. T. Grintjes⁶  Hans J. G. Keizer³  Aart H. Schene¹  André J. A. M. van der Ven⁶  Arnt F. A. Schellekens¹ 

[1] Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center;Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain;Tactus Addiction Care;Scelta;Parnassia Group;Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center;Nijmegen Institute for Scientist-Practitioners in Addiction

关键词: chemsex;    HIV;    intervention;    mental health;    MSM;    risk behavior;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01005

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Unprotected sexual contact continues to be a main cause of HIV transmission and poses certain key populations at increased risk for HIV infection. One of the populations at high risk are men who have sex with men. A subset of MSM engages in chemsex, whereby consumption of illicit drugs is used to facilitate or enhance sexual activity. This practice can have several negative consequences, such as sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) and mental health problems (including compulsive sexual behavior, addiction, and mood disorders). In this article, we provide our perspective on the current situation that medical professionals dealing with MSM living with HIV often feel empty-handed in how to deal with these behavioral and psychological issues. Close collaboration between somatic and mental health professionals is key to address treatment needs of people living with HIV, regarding the negative consequences of chemsex and their overall quality of life. In this article, we discuss possibilities for psychological treatment, including behavioral skills training to improve impulse control and reduce compulsive sexual behaviors among MSM living with HIV who persistently engage in sexual transmission risk behavior, based on our experience with implementing such an intervention. Important barriers and facilitators for further implementation of behavioral interventions will be discussed. Reduction of HIV transmission risk behavior is needed to achieve the WHO aim to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030. We propose that close collaboration between somatic and mental health professionals and implementation of behavioral interventions for risk populations are key to achieve this goal.

【 授权许可】

CC BY