A randomized trial of a brief HIV risk reduction intervention for men with severe mental illness.

OBJECTIVE A six-session version of a longer, 15-session social skills intervention for reducing high-risk sexual behaviors among men with severe mental illness was assessed. METHODS Ninety-two men were randomly assigned to the intervention or to a two-hour standard HIV educational session, and their sexual risk behaviors were assessed every six weeks for six months. RESULTS Among the sexually active men (33 in the intervention group and 23 in the control group), a twofold reduction in sexual risk behaviors was found for the intervention group. This reduction was less than the threefold reduction seen for the original 15-session intervention and was not statically significant. CONCLUSIONS Further study is required to determine the optimal balance between efficacy and feasibility of this intervention.