Talk therapy to improve mood and health in people with HIV

This research study is testing a type of therapy called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adherence and Depression (CBT-AD) in people living with HIV who are experiencing depression. Researchers want to understand how this talk therapy might improve both mood and the body's immune system by studying changes in the gut bacteria and brain activity. The study will compare people who receive this therapy right away to people who wait six months before starting it.

Depression is very common in people with HIV and can make it harder to take HIV medications consistently. Scientists believe that this treatment might work by changing how the gut and brain communicate, which could help reduce inflammation and improve overall health—but they need to study this carefully to understand how it works.