AEGiS-09IAC: Low distress and high life quality in HIV positives correlate with flexible coping.

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

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Low distress and high life quality in HIV positives correlate with flexible coping.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:120 (abstract no. WS-D17-2)
Leiberich P, Schumacher K, Rubbert A, Schwab J, Olbrich E, Kalden JR; Medical Clinic III, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, FRG.

OBJECTIVE: Longitudinal study about burdens, life quality (LQ) and coping of HIV positives (HIV+) to find successful adaptation and adequate support.

METHODS: Multimodality: inventories/interview (rating scales from 1 to 5); baseline (T1): reactions after diagnosis; follow-up (T2/T3) 0.5/1 y. later. SAMPLE: 46 HIV+ in-/outpatients, 70% male, medium age 35.3 y, all CDC stages, 48% homosexuals, 45% IVDUs, 7% heterosexually infected.

RESULTS: Global (T1 x = 2.98/T3 2.44), psychic and familial distress decreased significantly from first period after HIV+ diagnosis to T3 (duration of diagnosis in T3 x = 42 months), while somatic complaints increased (1.74-2.33). Most persons with high LQ in T1 showed stability overtime; most HIV+ with low LQ values in T1 reported an improvement in T3. LQ deterioration correlated with HIV progression, critical life events and drug relapse. High coping variability was found from T1 to T3: decrease of perceptual defense, diversion, self reproach, depressive reactions, self pity, increase of looking for success and religious orientation. In T3, HIV+ with high psychic distress overtime (28%) sign, more often than others used evasive-regressive strategies (depressive reactions, self isolation, drug consumption) and were not sufficiently capable of self-encouragement or of adopting a healthy life-style (correlated with low LQ: r = .36-.67).

CONCLUSIONS: After first orientation and sorrow, most HIV+ deal effectively and flexibly with the demands of HIV infection and attain good LQ. Our results sensitize physicians for patients' needs. HIV+ with high distress and evasive-regressive coping need professional support, e.g. psychotherapy.

Keywords: AEGIS, Adaptation, Psychological, Quality of Life, HIV Infections, Emotions, HIV Seropositivity, AIDS Dementia Complex, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Longitudinal Studies, Personality Inventory, Anxiety, Male, Human, ICA9KWDaegis,adaptation,psychological,qualityoflife,hivinfections,emotions,hivseropositivity,aidsdementiacomplex,substanceabuse,intravenous,longitudinalstudies,personalityinventory,anxiety,male,human,ica9
930606
WSD172

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.