The psychological experiences and needs of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who use methadone maintenance treatment and have common mental disorders remain unknown in Hanoi, Vietnam. Due to limited services for common mental disorders, optimal delivery methods for psychotherapy are also unknown. Accordingly, a qualitative study led by Vivian Go, PhD, Ha Viet Tran, Brian Wells Pence, PhD, and Bradley N. Gaynes, MD, MPH, explored both symptoms of common mental disorders among this population and the preferred qualifications and characteristics of a mental health counselor.
The team interviewed patients, their family members and caretakers, clinic providers, and clinic directors to answer these questions. The results from this work will help inform the future tailoring of mental health interventions among a population with unique care needs in Hanoi, as well as other populations of people with HIV with common mental disorders.
Other authors include: Teresa R. Filipowicz, Ha Thi Thuy Nong, Thuy Thi Thu Tran, Kelsey R. Landrum, Minh X. Nguyen, Ruth Verhey, and Dixon Chibanda.