Comparison 2.

Effects of the interventions aimed at improving depressive and psychiatric symptoms

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Depressive symptoms (BDI score)	3	447	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.02 [‐0.18, 0.21]
2 Psychiatric distress (General Severity Index of the Brief Symptom Index)	1	17	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐6.53 [‐11.71, ‐1.35]
3 Psychiatric distress (Outcomes questionnaire score)	1	79	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.80 [‐10.98, 14.58]
4 Psychological distress (Total SCL‐90‐R score)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.10 [‐0.11, ‐0.09]
5 Life stressor burden (HIV‐related life‐stressor burden scale)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.01 [‐0.02, 0.00]
6 Support from family (PSRS)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.16 [0.14, 0.18]
7 Support from friends (PSRS)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.22 [0.20, 0.24]
8 Barriers to care (BACS)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.06 [‐0.08, ‐0.04]
9 Coping self‐efficacy (Coping self‐efficacy scale)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.38 [0.34, 0.42]
10 Social well‐being (Social/family well‐being subscale of the FAHI)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.02 [‐0.00, 0.04]
11 Emotional well‐being (Emotional well‐being subscale of the FAHI)	1	191	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.05 [0.03, 0.07]