NCJ Number
111303
Journal
Patient Education and Counseling Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1988) Pages: 17-28
Date Published
1988
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews counseling issues in AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and examines the range of psychological issues affecting those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), using a continuum model to differentiate high-risk and low-risk behaviors.
Abstract
High-risk behaviors include intravenous drug users who share unsterilized needles, homosexual and bisexual men in sexually nonmonogamous liaisons, and prostitutes. Hemophiliacs and others with transfusion-acquired AIDS are at the lower end of the behavior risk continuum. The role of counseling in reducing the spread of infection is examined. Differentiation by risk behavior is held to most clearly identify differing psychological reactions to a diagnosis of HIV infection. Appropriate counseling responses are noted categories of AIDS-related syndromes and their psychological concomitants: asymptomatic HIV infection, AIDS related complext (ARC), organic mental syndromes, and fully developed AIDS. Special concerns affecting individuals who are participants in high-risk activity, have AIDS-related anxiety, or AIDS phobias who are not HIV antibody positive, i.e., who exhibit Munchausen's Syndrome -- claim the disease state despite its not being present -- are addressed. 30 references.