Health Psychology: AIDS and HIV

AIDS is caused by

HIV

AIDS symptoms may appear

years after infection

May take as long as a decade to

progress to full blown AIDS (appearance of serious illness)

AIDS-related complex:

minor symptoms such as weight loss and fever

In developing world,

most die within 1 year of AIDS

Best treatment:

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is not

a cure

Male to Male Sexual Contact—

50%

Heterosexual Contact—

32%

Injection Drug Use—

17%

Other—

1%

Exacerbation of AIDS progression: High

stress

Exacerbation of AIDS progression: Low

social support

Goals: Reduce stress

stress

Goals: Boost

immune system

Outcomes: Increased

T-helper cells

Outcomes: Lower

antibodies

Outcomes: Enhanced

psychological adjustment

Randomized controlled trials examined

efficacy of psychological interventions on neuroendocrine hormone regulation and immune status in HIV-positive individuals

Little support for

differential efficacy of different interventions

Treatments that are successful in improving psychological adjustment are

more likely to have beneficial effects on neuroendocrine regulation and immune status