AEGiS-10IAC: Project to psychotherapeutic approach to face up HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients.

10th International AIDS Conference

Yokohama, Japan — Aug 7-12, 1994

Project to psychotherapeutic approach to face up HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients.

Int Conf AIDS 1994 Aug 7-12; 10:393 (abstract no. PD0752)
Sosa L, Acosta MA, Lupo S; Service for Adolescents Children Psychiatric Department Faculty of Medical Science U.N.R., Argentina.

INTRODUCTION: HIV positive persons show certain psychological problems in their condition of infection, which is added to their basic personality features and that can be centered on the following issues: 1) the relationship with oneself before the diagnosis 2) the relationship couple-relatives, near relations, caretakers, etc. 3) external relationships: loneliness vs. integration.

OBJECTIVE: to enable HIV-infected/AIDS patients to increase their average survival, through the acceptance of their pathology and receiving adequate assistance which can be put forward in the following terms: Individual, family and group counseling and assistance, to help patients to elaborate their individual problems affecting them since the moment that their seropositivity is known.

METHOD: Individual diagnostic interviews and individual therapy to solve conflicting areas; familiar diagnostic interviews and familiar therapy to reorganize the familiar system; self-help group and self-awareness: each group include some ten (10) patients. Group selection is done by a series of four (4) individual interviews. Group's work is of limited duration, three to four months, according to the fulfillment of objectives; and weekly meetings last between two and three hours. This group is coordinated by two psychologists who devote to favouring positive interaction among members. Informative talks concerning HIV infection hygienic--nourishing aspects, prophylaxis, etc., developed as a complement to the meetings.

CONCLUSIONS: Through the application of this experience we arrived at the next results. It is possible: 1) To cope and solve the anguish over the possibility of suffering, physical deterioration, and death. 2) To develop a major integration in their relationships, changes in attitude towards their relationship with couples, near relations, relatives, caretakers, etc. 3) Resolution of supposed or real problems that arise at work. 4) To promote and put into practice inner resources in order to improve the relationship with oneself and one's context.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, AIDS Serodiagnosis, Counseling, Interpersonal Relations, Family, Interviews, Human, diagnosis, ICA10
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