AEGiS-07IAC: Psychological follow-up of haemophilic patients with HIV infection.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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Psychological follow-up of haemophilic patients with HIV infection.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:441 (abstract no. W.D.4213)
Zecca Mansueto G, Moroni P; Institute of Psychology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

OBJECTIVE: In July 1989, we started a psychological support programme for HIV haemophilic patients, the purpose being to elaborate psychological support instruments for increasing the haemophiliacs' coping abilities in view of their new HIV+condition.

METHODS: 31 haemophiliacs, aged 8 to 59 (10 under 18, and 21 over) were followed at the Day (Out-Patients') Hospital of Hemato-oncological Department of Istituto G. Gaslin of Genoa. The survey consisted in: 1) gathering the anamnesis; 2) personal psychological interviews and with the relatives; 3) psychotherapeutical support interviews in emergency situations (suicidal ideas, intensified persecution syndrome).

RESULTS: In the majority of cases, the psychological characteristics of adult patients revealed low mood, increased emotional reactivity and instability, low self-esteem and feelings of isolation. In a few cases, intense somatizations of the genital and/or cardiac apparatus, persecutory distress, implicitly self-destructive behaviours and escapist reactions were noticed. It was noticed, moreover, that all adult patients and parents of young patients show intense regression in the personal management of the haemophilic disease. The prevailing mechanism of defence include negation and the reaction-formation. Our research suggests, moreover, that, at least at an initial stage, the nursing staff's adaptation mechanism are very similar to those of their patients, for instance an early negation leading to mourning and helplessness attitudes.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Adaptation, Psychological, Mental Disorders, Interviews, Defense Mechanisms, Attitude, Self Concept, Adult, Human, psychology, ICA7KWDaegis,hivinfections,adaptation,psychological,mentaldisorders,interviews,defensemechanisms,attitude,selfconcept,adult,human,psychology,ica7
910616
WD4213

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.