Psychological adjustment to HIV infection.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Psychological adjustment to HIV infection.

Int Conf AIDS. 1990 Jun 20-23;6(1):140 (abstract no. Th.B.26). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA6/10002690
Kelly B; Raphael B; Zournazi A; Dunne M; Smith S; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The preliminary phase of a multicentre prospective study of the correlates of psychiatric morbidity, psychological adjustment to disease and sexual behaviour in homosexual/bisexual HIV positive men is described. METHOD: To date 24 asymptomatic HIV+ (CDC II) homosexual/bisexual males have been recruited through hospital outpatient clinics (response rate approx. 60%) and have participated in detailed psychiatric and neuropsychological interviews. RESULTS: 1) 50% of subjects scored within the range of probable psychiatric morbidity on the General Health Questionnaire (28 item) (GHQ). 2) Patterns of psychological adjustment to HIV conformed closely to those described for cancer patients. 3) Significant correlations were found between three subscales of a mental adjustment to disease scale and GHQ scores: Fatalism (r = .73, p less than .001), Helplessness/Hopelessness (r = .76, p less than .001) and Fighting Spirit (r = -.56, p < .01 4) Self-reported frequency of condom use for anal intercourse was negatively correlated with the level of psychological symptoms (r = -.51, p = .03) and subscales from the mental adjustment to disease scale (Helplessness/Hopelessness: r = -.64, p = .004). CONCLUSION: There are significant relationships between mental adjustment to HIV infection, likelihood of psychiatric morbidity and propensity to practice safe sex. The general pattern of coping with HIV is similar to that observed for cancer patients.

Keywords: *Adaptation, Psychological Bisexuality Contraceptive Devices, Male Homosexuality Human HIV Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY Interviews Male Multicenter Studies Prospective Studies Questionnaires *Sex Behavior ABSTRACT MULTICENTER STUDY CLINICAL TRIAL
901230
M90C3692

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