Effects of stress management on PNI-based outcomes in persons with HIV disease

A pretest–posttest, repeated‐measures design was used to evaluate the effects of two stress management interventions on a battery of outcomes derived from a psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) framework. The effects of cognitive‐behavioral relaxation training groups (CBSM) and social support groups (SSG) were compared with a WAIT‐listed control group on the outcomes of psychosocial functioning, quality of life, neuroendocrine mediation, and somatic health. Participants were 148 individuals (119 men, 29 women), diagnosed with HIV disease; 112 (76%) completing the study groups. Using analysis of covariance, the CBSM group was found to have significantly higher postintervention emotional well‐being and total quality‐of‐life scores than did either the SSG or WAIT groups. SSG participants had significantly lower social/family well‐being scores immediately postintervention and lower social support scores after 6 months. The findings point to a pressing need for further, well‐controlled research with these common intervention modalities. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 26:102–117, 2003