Dr. Patterson, Professor of Psychiatry at University of California, has been conducting psychosocial research with HIV-positive and at-risk populations since 1989.
Dr. Patterson has been the principal investigator on several NIH-funded grants to test the efficacy of theory-based behavioral interventions to increase condom use and decrease HIV and STI transmission risk in various populations. Two of these studies focused specifically on methamphetamine users in San Diego, California: the EDGE study for HIV-positive MSM; and the Fastlane study with HIV-negative male and female heterosexuals. The other studies, although not directed specifically at drug users, have all considered HIV sexual risk behavior in the context of a number of other risk factors, including the use of illicit drugs. In 2002, Dr. Patterson designed a single-session behavioral intervention for female sex workers in several Mexican cities along the US border. This intervention, called Mujer Segura, was shown to be efficacious in a five-year RCT involving more than 1,000 participants. A five-year study is currently underway to test the implementation of this intervention at 12 community health clinics in cities throughout Mexico. The intervention model was also recently adapted to female sex workers in Nagpur, India, and a pilot trial was conducted. Finally, the brief, single-session model was adapted to male clients of female sex workers in Tijuana, Mexico, and a five-year trial of that intervention is also currently underway.