'In an important way, I did die': uncertainty and revival in persons living with HIV or AIDS. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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'In an important way, I did die': uncertainty and revival in persons living with HIV or AIDS.

AIDS Care. 1999 Apr;11(2):201-19. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99403871
Brashers DE; Neidig JL; Cardillo LW; Dobbs LK; Russell JA; Haas SM; Department of Speech Communication, University of Illinois,; Urbana 61801-3631, USA. dbrasher@uiuc.edu

Abstract: This study reports the revival experiences of persons who once were reconciled to their death from HIV/AIDS but who, as a result of dramatic treatment responses, now believe they may survive (popularly known as the Lazarus Syndrome). A purposive sample of men and women living with HIV infection or AIDS were interviewed in six focus groups. As part of a larger study of uncertainty in HIV illness, participants described their uncertainty accompanying renewed health and a return to the joys and problems of continued life. While new discoveries about the disease and exciting antiretroviral therapies hold the promise of improved survival, ambiguity about the durability of treatment response and ultimate survival contribute to the level of uncertainty with which a patient must cope. The experience of uncertainty in the narratives about revival involved renegotiation. Participants described physical renewal as an unexpected new stressor forcing them to renegotiate: (a) feelings of hope and future orientation, (b) social roles and identities, (c) interpersonal relations, and (d) the quality of their lives. Implications for prevention, practice, research and theory are presented and suggestions for education and assistance are offered.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PSYCHOLOGY Adult *Attitude to Death Female Financing, Personal Human HIV Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY *HIV Long-Term Survivors Male Middle Age Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.KWDjournalarticleacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/psychologyadultKWDattitudetodeathfemalefinancing,personalhumanhivinfections/KWDpsychologyKWDhivlong-termsurvivorsmalemiddleagesupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tsupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,pKWDhKWDs
991230
A99C1061

Copyright © 1999 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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