Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety and HIV Prevention for Gay and Bisexual Men

Little information is available to cognitive-behavioral therapists about how to integrate HIV prevention into standard cognitive behavioral (CBT) treatments among gay and bisexual men, especially for those gay and bisexual men who are at risk for contracting HIV due to their social anxiety. The purpose of the present paper is to assist cognitive behavioral therapists who are treating HIV-negative gay and bisexual men who have high social anxiety. This paper provides an overview of the extant research on social anxiety and its effects on sexual risk behaviors and how to integrate these two types of problems into a coherent treatment plan for gay and bisexual men. The treatment described here uses the framework of CBT for social anxiety (e.g., Hope, Heimberg, & Turk, 2010) and adapts it to include substance use management in interpersonal situations and to reduce sexual risk behavior. The application of empirically supported therapy techniques to reduce both social anxiety and HIV risk behavior for gay and bisexual men is illustrated using three case examples. The present treatment is potentially appropriate for HIV-negative gay and bisexual men who present with social anxiety and who wish to remain HIV-negative by decreasing their sexual risk behavior.