Lambiase L, Gastaldi S, Portoni M, Pozzi G, Bottura P, Suter F; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1993 Jun 6-11; 9: 884 (abstract no. PO-D20-3997).
Psychology and Infectious Diseases Dept., General Hospital, Busto Arsizio, Italy.
To study the psychological impact in HIV+ patients and to evaluate possible adaptive processes, 60 patients (40 outpatients and 20 institutionalised) were interviewed. Data have been analysed according to a systemic approach. The aspects which mostly influence the patient's emotional disorder can be ascribed to: infectivity and impossibility to cure the disease; fear of "social judgement" and impossibility for patients to share their own problems. In contrast to AIDS, HIV+ asymptomatic patients plan their future and try to adapt to the illness, if psychologically helped. All patients, however, since the diagnosis tend to ascribe their psychological discomfort to the disease without taking into account previous causes or problems. A psychological approach should differentiate between discomfort due to the disease or to pre-existing factors. In this way it could stimulate an adaptive process in HIV+ asymptomatic patients and could limit anxiety and fear of death in terminal patients.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Anxiety
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Interpersonal Relations
- Social Environment
- Social Support
- methods
- organization & administration
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102207301
From Meeting Abstracts