Behavioral and multi-component interventions appear to be relatively potent in promoting adherence among chronically ill youth. Recommendations for future research and methodological issues are presented.

This randomized behavioral trial examined whether youth living with HIV (YLH) receiving cell-phone support with study funded phone plans, demonstrated improved adherence and viral control during the 24 week intervention and 24 weeks post-intervention compared to controls. Monday through Friday phone calls confirmed medications were taken, provided problem-solving support, and referred to services to address adherence barriers. Of 37 participants (ages 15–24), 62 % were male and 70 % were African American. Self-reported adherence was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control at 24 and 48 weeks for the past month (P = 0.007) and log 10 HIV VL was significantly lower at both 24 weeks (2.82 versus 4.52 P = 0.002) and 48 weeks (3.23 versus 4.23 P = 0.043). Adherence and viral load showed medium to large effect sizes across the 48 week study. This is the first study to demonstrate sustained clinically significant reductions in HIV VL using youth friendly technology.

There exists a group of youngsters who are the offspring of a parent/parents with a bipolar disorder who do not suffer from BP 1 or BP 2, yet have elevated mood symptoms and psychosocial dysfunction. As a result of these observations, treatment studies are needed for youths with 'cyclotaxia'.

To date there is no quantitative review of predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in youth experiencing illnesses or injuries. This article presents a meta-analysis of variables associated with the development of PTSD among those youth. Twenty-six studies were included: 18 involving children experiencing injuries and 8 with pediatric illnesses. Among injured youth, socioeconomic status and social impairment were small to moderate correlates of PTSD, whereas depressive and anxious symptoms, dissociation, acute stress disorder, and the appraisal of trauma severity and life threat displayed large effect sizes with PTSD severity. Among ill youth, social support and the appraisal of illness severity and life threat emerged as small to moderate predictors of posttraumatic symptoms. The current findings are exploratory in nature, as a primary limitation of the current study includes the limited number of independent studies that have evaluated these predictors. Current findings further our understanding of PTSD through exploration of possible indicators of at-risk youth who have experienced illness and injury.

HIV-infected persons who use drugs (PWUDs) are particularly vulnerable for suboptimal combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) adherence. A systematic review of interventions to improve cART adherence and virologic outcomes among HIV-infected PWUDs was conducted. Among the 45 eligible studies, randomized controlled trials suggested directly administered antiretroviral therapy, medication-assisted therapy (MAT), contingency management, and multi-component, nurse-delivered interventions provided significant improved short-term adherence and virologic outcomes, but these effects were not sustained after intervention cessation. Cohort and prospective studies suggested short-term increased cART adherence with MAT. More conclusive data regarding the efficacy on cART adherence and HIV treatment outcomes using cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, peer-driven interventions and the integration of MAT into HIV clinical care are warranted. Of great concern was the virtual lack of interventions with sustained post-intervention adherence and virologic benefits. Future research directions, including the development of interventions that promote long-term improvements in adherence and virologic outcomes, are discussed.

Objective To measure rates of ART use and virologic suppression among perinatally infected (PIY) and behaviorally infected youth (BIY) linked to care in the United States, and examine the effects of demographic, biomedical, and psychosocial factors on those rates. Methods Between 2009–2012, 649 PIY and 1,547 BIY in 20 Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions sites completed cross-sectional surveys via audio computer- assisted self-interviews. Viral load data were collected from chart abstraction or blood draw. Results Overall 82.4% of PIY and 49.1% of BIY reported current ART use. Only 37.0% of PIY and 27.1% of BIY were virologically suppressed. Virologic suppression rates did not vary as a function of time since HIV diagnosis in either group. Consistent HIV care and no current substance abuse were significant correlates of ART use among PIY. These variables and non-African American race were some factors associated with virologic suppression for PIY (ORs Ps < .05). Among BIY, older age, heterosexuals, employment, and education were significantly related to ART use (ORs Ps < .05); suppression was related to ART use >6 months, >90% ART adherence, and consistent HIV care (ORs Ps < .05). Nearly 75% (n = 498) of non-suppressed youth reported unprotected sex in the past 3 months. Conclusions There are continued challenges with successfully treating youth even once diagnosed and linked to HIV care. Strategies targeting barriers to ART access, use and virologic suppression are needed to optimize the impact of the "Treatment as Prevention" paradigm among PIY and BIY.

The diagnosis of bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSD) is difficult to evaluate in child and adolescent populations. The current study examines whether commonly used behavior checklists- the Child Behavior Checklist, Teacher Report Form, and the Youth Self-Report form-are clinically useful in making a differential diagnosis between BPSD and other disorders. This study is the first to investigate the validity of integrating pairs of informants using these instruments to differentiate individuals with BPSD from those with disruptive behavior disorders, major depressive disorder, and any child or adolescent not meeting criteria for BPSD. Parent report best predicted diagnostic status, yet diagnostic efficiency statistics associated with these checklists were relatively poor. Results indicate that the Child Behavior Checklist has limited utility when attempting to derive clinically meaningful information about the presentation of juvenile BPSD.

BackgroundThe authors examined associations between structural characteristics and HIV disease management among a geographically diverse sample of behaviorally and perinatally HIV-infected adolescents and young adults in the United States.MethodsThe sample included 1891 adolescents and young adults living with HIV (27.8% perinatally infected; 72.2% behaviorally infected) who were linked to care through 20 Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions Units. All completed audio computer–assisted self-interview surveys. Chart abstraction or blood draw provided viral load data. Geographic-level variables were extracted from the United States Census Bureau (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantage, percent of Black and Latino households, percent rural) and Esri Crime (e.g., global crime index) databases as Zip Code Tabulation Areas. AIDSVu data (e.g., prevalence of HIV among youth) were extracted at the county-level. Using HLM v.7, the authors conducted means-as-outcomes random effects multi-level models to examine the association between structural-level and individual-level factors and (1) being on antiretroviral therapy (ART) currently; (2) being on ART for at least 6 months; (3) missed HIV care appointments (not having missed any vs. having missed one or more appointments) over the past 12 months; and (4) viral suppression (defined by the corresponding assay cutoff for the lower limit of viral load at each participating site which denoted nondetectability vs. detectability).ResultsFrequencies for the 4 primary outcomes were as follows: current ART use (n = 1120, 59.23%); ART use for ≥6 months (n = 861, 45.53%); at least one missed HIV care appointment (n = 936, 49.50); and viral suppression (n = 577, 30.51%). After adjusting for individual-level factors, youth living in more disadvantaged areas (defined by a composite score derived from 2010 Census indicators including percent poverty, percent receiving public assistance, percent of female, single-headed households, percent unemployment, and percent of people with less than a high school degree) were less likely to report current ART use (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.72–1.00, p = .05). Among current ART users, living in more disadvantaged areas was associated with greater likelihood of having used ART for ≥6 months. Participants living in counties with greater HIV prevalence among 13–24 year olds were more likely to report current ART use (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05–1.65, p = .02), ≥6 months ART use (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05–1.65, p = .02), and to be virally suppressed (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.20–1.87, p = .001); however, youth in these areas were also more likely to report missed medical appointments (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.07–1.63, p = .008).ConclusionsThe findings underscore the multi-level and structural factors associated with ART use, missed HIV care appointments, and viral suppression for adolescents and young adults in the United States. Consideration of these factors is strongly recommended in future intervention, clinical practice, and policy research that seek to un...