Abstract
<p>With the advent of highly active retroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV, extraordinary levels of adherence are required of patients not only to increase odds of maximally suppressing viral loads, but also to prevent the mutation of the virus to drug resistant strains. This study examines the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic's (MBMD) ability to predict adherence rates both categorically (i.e., 95% and above, and below 95%) and continuously as measured by the Adherence to Combination Therapy Guide (ACTG) and Medication Adherence Training Instrument (MATI) in 147 HIV+ men and women being treated with HAART. After controlling for relevant demographic, disease factors, and health behaviors, several scales on the MBMD successfully predicted adherence. Using multiple regression and logistic regression, the MBMD scales of Medication Abuse, Anxiety-Tension, and Depression, as well as personality styles of Avoidant Personality (Inhibited and Introversive scales) and Antisocial Personality (Nonconforming, Forceful, and Oppositional scales) were significantly associated (p < .05) with various aspects of adherence to medication including taking weekend drug holidays and taking more medication than prescribed. Various explanations of these patterns are offered and the clinical implications for using the MBMD are discussed. Overall, the results suggest that the MBMD is an efficient and effective screening tool for identifying patients at risk for not adhering to their HAART medication regimen.</p>