Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES IN AIDS
AIDS. Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott Company, p. 275-97, 1985.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/86616583 Christ GH; Wiener LS; Dept. of Social Work, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New; York, NY
Abstract:
The complexity of problems confronting people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the psychosocial problems it engenders set this disease apart from virtually every other contemporary public health problem. AIDS remains incurable. Currently, treatments are available for specific opportunistic infections, Kaposi's sarcoma, and other diseases associated with AIDS. However, the patient (pt) is confronted with the fact that as yet there are no treatments for the immunodeficiency itself. The disease and its sequelae are overwhelmingly physically debilitating. Psychosocial issues in AIDS are discussed under the following headings: disease characteristics, stresses of the disease and its treatment (diagnosis; clinical syndromes; treatment; termination of treatment), emotional reactions of pts (fears of disfigurement, debilitation, infection, and death; fear of social abandonment; guilt about past sexual behaviors), special problems of AIDS pts (employment and insurance; support network limitations; distance from family of origin; living alone; vulnerability to psychological dysfunction), emotional problems of families, emotional problems of staff, a psychosocial intervention model (ongoing interventions and support; staff), and community response and future directions. Many aspects of AIDS and its treatment are extremely stressful for pts. Two important sources of stress are the high mortality rate associated with the disease and the youth of the population it affects. The psychosocial impacts of these stresses are described as they are experienced by pts at diagnosis, within specific clinical syndromes, during treatment, and at the point of treatment termination. (21 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS/*PSYCHOLOGY/ THERAPY Adult Community Health Services Crisis Intervention Employment Family Fear Guilt Human Middle Age Patient Care Team Social Isolation Social Support Stress, Psychological MONOGRAPH
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
