Evaluation of an inquiry-based stress reduction programme to reduce self-stigma in persons living with HIV and AIDS

‘We are the change’ – an innovative community-based response to address self-stigma: a pilot study focusing on people living with HIV in Zimbabwe

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN17045085

Enrollment

Registered

2017-09-27

Start date

2013-10-28

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2019-03-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Mental health: self-stigma, depression, and other mental states, among people living with HIV Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

Intervention name: 12-week programme incorporating Inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR): The Work of Byron Katie. Randomisation: None - all participants received the intervention.

plus 15-45 minutes of individual or partner work carried out six days per week. Duration: 12 weeks. Intervention description: IBSR is a tool which helps users to iden

2) Can I absolutely know that it is true?

3) How do I react when I believe that thought?

and 4) Who would I be without the thought? By going through this process, users become more aware of self-stigmatising thoughts as they occur, and are able to work through them systematically, in orde

145:w14113. doi:10.4414

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Individuals living with a positive HIV diagnosis for longer than 3 months 2. Over 18 years of age 3. Able to speak English with sufficient fluency to take part in group discussions 4. Willing to provide informed consent and sign an informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Individuals with unknown HIV status 2. Individuals diagnosed with HIV in the last three months 3. Individuals currently undergoing psychotherapy treatment

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. HIV-related self-stigma, quantitatively measured using the Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale (IASS), a psychometric scale measuring six items reflecting self-defacing beliefs and negative perceptions of people living with HIV and AIDS. Focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews will also be used to capture more detail about changes arising due to the intervention. Timepoints: baseline, 1-monthfollow-up, 3-month follow-up 2. Self-reported psychological wellbeing, measured using the Ryff Scales of wellbeing. Focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews will also be used to capture more detail about changes arising due to the intervention. Timepoints: baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up 3. Depression, measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression scale (CES-D). Timepoints: baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up 4. Quality of life, measured using the HIV/AIDS Targeted Quality of Life scale (HAT-QoL). Timepoints: baseline, 1 monthfollow-up, 3-month follow-up	—

Measure

Time frame

1. HIV-related self-stigma, quantitatively measured using the Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale (IASS), a psychometric scale measuring six items reflecting self-defacing beliefs and negative perceptions of people living with HIV and AIDS. Focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews will also be used to capture more detail about changes arising due to the intervention. Timepoints: baseline, 1-monthfollow-up, 3-month follow-up 2. Self-reported psychological wellbeing, measured using the Ryff Scales of wellbeing. Focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews will also be used to capture more detail about changes arising due to the intervention. Timepoints: baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up 3. Depression, measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression scale (CES-D). Timepoints: baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up 4. Quality of life, measured using the HIV/AIDS Targeted Quality of Life scale (HAT-QoL). Timepoints: baseline, 1 monthfollow-up, 3-month follow-up

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Qualitative reporting by participants of changes to self-stigma and associated mental states following taking part in the intervention. This was measured using semi-structured focus group discussions and interviews at baseline, 1-monthfollow-up, and 3-month follow-up	—

Countries

Zimbabwe

Contacts

Public ContactNadine Ferris France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026