In men with symptomatic HIV, a psychological intervention called cognitive behavioral stress management may help restore certain immune cells by lowering stress-related hormones and improving mood, with changes in mood and cortisol levels during treatment predicting future immune improvements.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Community contributions welcome

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Increases in a marker of immune system reconstitution are predated by decreases in 24-h urinary cortisol output and depressed mood during a 10-week stress management intervention in symptomatic HIV-infected men.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2005 Jan

This study found that when HIV-positive men learned to manage stress, their stress hormones and mood improved—and months later, their immune systems showed signs of healing. So, reducing stress may help the body recover from HIV.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Increases in a marker of immune system reconstitution are predated by decreases in 24-h urinary cortisol output and depressed mood during a 10-week stress management intervention in symptomatic HIV-infected men.

Score: 54

DOI: 10.1016/J.JPSYCHORES.2004.05.010

Similar Assertions

In men with HIV who experience a reduction in depressive symptoms after participating in a 10-week stress management program, higher levels of a specific type of immune cell are observed 6 to 12 months later.

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90%

In men with symptomatic HIV, a 10-week stress management program is linked to lower stress hormone levels and improved mood during the program, and these changes are associated with higher levels of a specific type of immune cell several months later.

54

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89%

In men with HIV who experience depressive symptoms, improvements in mood from a 10-week stress management program tend to last for up to a year, but these mood improvements do not help explain further changes in immune function beyond what occurred during the program.

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85%

In men with symptomatic HIV, a 10-week stress management program that lowers cortisol levels in urine is linked to higher levels of a specific type of immune cell six to twelve months later.

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83%

A 10-week program that teaches stress management techniques reduces the amount of cortisol released in urine over 24 hours in gay men with HIV who are experiencing symptoms, compared to those who do not receive the program.

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76%