For Adults with HIV and AIDS, Rutgers Researchers Aim to Reduce Suicide Risk

NIH grant funds study that combines conventional therapy with artificial intelligence and video technology

In New Jersey, an estimated 12,880 adults aged 55 or older are living with HIV and AIDS; they face a profusion of health and emotional hurdles. Per a study recently published in the journal General Psychiatry, Americans who live with HIV and AIDS (of whom 35% are 55 or older) have a risk of suicide 100x greater than for the general population.

A three-year, $235,000-per-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health will enable Rutgers Health researchers to examine this daunting reality in depth. Researchers will adapt and pilot skills and coaching related to dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) – a type of talk therapy already recognized as effective for addressing suicidal behaviors within the general population – which will be delivered through the use of videos and AI chatbots. Medical technology start-up Empower Health.ai, which leverages AI and natural language processing, is participating in the research. Project details are available at https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10921230.

“Older adults living with HIV/AIDS experience a unique range of stressors, including disease- and age-related stigma,” said Elissa Kozlov, a clinical psychologist, an assistant professor with the Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy at the Rutgers School of Public Health, and the principal investigator of the project. “But despite this population’s dramatically elevated suicide risk, no interventions have been developed specifically for them. This is a surprising, concerning scientific gap, but one we hope to help close with our research.”

The goal will be development of a scalable, accessible behavioral treatment to alleviate psychological suffering. By merging dialectical behavioral therapy skills videos and AI-powered coaching, Kozlov envisions providing therapeutic experiences to people who may not have the ability to interact regularly with mental health professionals.

“This research can be highly significant, particularly in terms of public health,” added Kozlov, who also leads the school’s online Master of Public Health in Population Aging. “We’ll be using the latest therapy and technology options, but what we’ll ultimately

“This research can be highly significant, particularly in terms of public health,” Kozlov said. “We’ll be using the latest therapy and technology options, but what we’ll ultimately be seeking to accomplish is traditional: management of negative emotions and suicidal thoughts, and improvement of mood and adherence to medical treatment programs.”