Christina S. Meade
Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Overview
Dr. Meade’s domestic research program focuses on predictors of HIV risk behavior in adults with substance use and psychiatric disorders, and the relationship between neuropsychiatric conditions and continued risk behavior in HIV-positive adults. She is particularly interested in how drug addiction and HIV infection impact executive functions, such as decision making, that lead individuals to engage in risky behaviors. Many of her current projects incorporate MRI to isolate the effects of addiction and HIV on both brain function and structure. Dr. Meade is also interested in the development of evidence-based treatments to improve cognitive functioning and reduce risk behaviors among drug users.
Given that most people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS live in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Meade’s international research program is based in South Africa. The Western Cape has experienced a dramatic increase in methamphetamine use since the early 2000s, and there is concern that it may further fuel the HIV epidemic in this country. Current projects focus on characterizing drug addiction and HIV risk behaviors in this understudied group, both in in community and treatment settings, and ultimately increasing uptake of HIV services to improve health outcomes and reduce the continued spread of HIV.
Hobkirk, Andréa L., et al. “Primary and Secondary HIV Prevention Among Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Recent Findings.” Curr Hiv/Aids Rep, vol. 12, no. 4, Dec. 2015, pp. 406–12. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s11904-015-0294-4. Full Text
Watt, Melissa H., et al. “The mental health experiences and needs of methamphetamine users in Cape Town: A mixed methods study.” S Afr Med J, vol. 105, no. 8, Sept. 2015, pp. 685–88. Pubmed, doi:10.7196/samjnew.7910. Full Text
Meade, Christina S., et al. “Addiction and treatment experiences among active methamphetamine users recruited from a township community in Cape Town, South Africa: A mixed-methods study.” Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 152, July 2015, pp. 79–86. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.04.016. Full Text
Meade, Christina S., et al. “Independent effects of HIV infection and cocaine dependence on neurocognitive impairment in a community sample living in the southern United States.” Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 149, Apr. 2015, pp. 128–35. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.01.034. Full Text
Hobkirk, Andréa L., et al. “Mediators of interpersonal violence and drug addiction severity among methamphetamine users in Cape Town, South Africa.” Addict Behav, vol. 42, Mar. 2015, pp. 167–71. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.11.030. Full Text
Meade, Christina S., et al. “HIV testing behaviors and attitudes among community recruited methamphetamine users in a South African township.” Aids Behav, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 186–91. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10461-014-0795-y. Full Text
Eddy, Kamryn T., et al. “Appetite regulatory hormones in women with anorexia nervosa: binge-eating/purging versus restricting type.” J Clin Psychiatry, vol. 76, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 19–24. Pubmed, doi:10.4088/JCP.13m08753. Full Text
Kimani, Stephen M., et al. “Respondent driven sampling is an effective method for engaging methamphetamine users in HIV prevention research in South Africa.” Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 143, Oct. 2014, pp. 134–40. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.07.018. Full Text
Matthews, E. J., et al. “IMPLEMENTATION OF A SCHOOL-BASED HIV PREVENTION CURRICULUM FOLLOWING NATIONAL DISSEMINATION IN NYANZA PROVINCE, KENYA.” East Afr Med J, vol. 91, no. 5, May 2014, pp. 152–60.
Matthews, E. J., et al. “IMPLEMENTATION OF A SCHOOL-BASED HIV PREVENTION CURRICULUM FOLLOWING NATIONAL DISSEMINATION IN NYANZA PROVINCE, KENYA.” East Afr Med J, vol. 91, no. 5, May 2014, pp. 152–60.