AEGiS-07IAC: HIV Ab-positive Italian patients' orientation to seeking professional psychological help.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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HIV Ab-positive Italian patients' orientation to seeking professional psychological help.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:457 (abstract no. W.D.4279)
Lazzari C, Campione F, Costigliola P, Ricchi E, Chiodo F; Inst. of Infectious Diseases and Dept. of Psychology - University of Bologna, Italy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the HIV Ab-positive Italian patients' orientation to seeking professional psychological help.

METHODS: 70 HIV Ab-positive patients (homosexual males, and male and female intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs)), answered the questionnaire of Fisher and Turner (J.Consult. and Clin.Psych., 1970, 35:79-90) which investigates the recognition of need for psychotherapeutic help, stigma tolerance, interpersonal openess and confidence in mental health practitioner.

RESULTS: For all the categories considered, mean scores on the questionnaire was 60.30 (S.D.= 13.62; range: 85-33). First, we compared the scores obtained in the two risk groups, that is, homosexuals (N=20; Mean=59.39; S.D.= 15.86) and IVDAs (N=50; Mean=60.4; S.D.= 13.08), and we did not find any statistically significant difference between the two groups (t=0.27; P:N.S.). Then, we compared male IVDAs (N=26; Mean=57.03; S.D.= 13.83) with female IVDAs (N=24; Mean=64.04; S.D.= 11.4), and we found a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of two groups (t=1.93; P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Italian homosexuals and IVDAs, by scoring in the medium range of values in the questionnaire, show a low recognition of need for psychotherapeutic help and little interpersonal openess, a low stigma tolerance, and a low confidence in mental health practiciones. However, female IVDAs are more positively oriented while male IVDAs more negatively oriented. Homosexuals' orientation scores in the between.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Homosexuality, Mental Disorders, Mental Health, Questionnaires, Female, Male, Human, psychology, education, ICA7KWDaegis,hivinfections,hivseropositivity,homosexuality,mentaldisorders,mentalhealth,questionnaires,female,male,human,psychology,education,ica7
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WD4279

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