Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
CMV retinitis and quality of life (Meeting abstract).
Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Oncol; 12:A11 1993. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/93694411 Perlis C; Wallace D; Rosenbaum E; Univ. of California/Mount Zion Hosp., 1600 Divisidaro, San; Francisco, CA 94120
Abstract:
A series of 50 patients (pts) diagnosed with HIV have been visited by the director of the art for recovery program (AFRP) with the objective of enhancing their quality of life through artistic expression. Many patients (pts) present with additional diagnoses, of those, pts with CMV retinitis (CMVR) have perhaps made the most significant efforts to convey their experience through art. The typical CMVR pt is a 35-yr-old male with little or no artistic experience. This diagnosis and the possibility of blindness appears to spontaneously motivate them to begin to draw or paint that which has been most meaningful to them--friend, a garden, an experience. It is if they believe that through the process of creating a visual product their memory of the object or event will be enhanced and perhaps subject to less decay over time. Since CMVR is a progressive disease, changes in the pts' visual experience can be seen by examining their art works. As vision becomes destroyed in one or the other, or both, visual fields, there appears a subjective loss of being able to move through space, a closing in of the visual field. It is perhaps the impending closure that moves the pt to develop stronger images of that which is or has been meaningful to him. Alternatively, the pt may be motivated by a desire to have a portion of himself live on after transition. This is apparently the case when pts respond to the art works of other pts which are displayed in the hospital corridors. Their response to these works is typically that of identification, since the pt may have had the same diagnosis. We believe that it is the process of creation that enhances the quality of life for the pt, and concomitantly provides an avenue for them to take as they search for meaning in their illness and with others who share their feelings through creativity. The progressive sequence of CMVR and pts' own art work and response to art works of others with similar diagnoses will be illustrated with slides taken of pt art.
Keywords: Adaptation, Psychological Adult Art AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY Blindness/PSYCHOLOGY Creativeness Cytomegalovirus Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY Human Male *Quality of Life Retinitis/*PSYCHOLOGY *Sick Role ABSTRACT 931230
M93C0816
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
