HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - Psychological Perspective

Table of Content

Introduction3

Discussion3

Psychological Theory in HIV Positive Patients3

Wider psycho-social impacts on health in HIV positive patients5

Health Strategies to improve Psychological Wellbeing of HIV Positive Patients5

Adjustment of patients with AIDS6

Adjustment Is a Dynamic Process7

Adjustment Must Be Embedded in the Life Context7

Variation in Adjustment8

Patients' own perception of the disease8

Adjustability Processes9

Patients' Personality9

Social Support10

Conclusion12

References14

HIV/AIDS - Psychological Perspective

Introduction

AIDS is Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is a viral disease of Human Immune System which gets compromised as a result of number of reasons. This disease is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Patients' behaviour towards people and society changes and the society in turn also has weird reaction towards the patient. In this paper we shall discuss how psychological theory can be applied to various issues of patients suffering from HIV infection and its impact on their health from Psycho-social perspective. In the end we will examine various health strategies required to improve psychological wellbeing of AIDS patients.

Discussion

Psychological Theory in HIV Positive Patients

Two types of theories could be summarized in this regard which are as under:

Theories in which behaviour of the patient is observed by clinicians to achieve certain objective with regard to his adjustment towards personal, family and work life.

Theories in which patients suffering from HIV/AIDs are required to inform their clinicians that they have got strong determination and will power to fight the disease as far as its future course of action is concerned.

In order to study the impact of above assumptions Twenty-four papers were included in a metaanalysis and their results were further summarised in five theories: (i) Patient's self perception about the disease and its future pattern in relation to social adjustment, (ii) Patients are required to plan certain objectives which are required to be met during prognosis, (iii) Clinician set certain goals for the patients which they need to achieve, (iv) Patients exhibit some confidence and positivity towards HIV/AIDS to combat future happening of the disease, and (v) Patients with low esteem try to monitor their disease without much intervention by the clinicians with non-compliant approach. Out of the above theories, the first three theories have proved significantly helpful with better patients' compliance and positive outcomes of the disease. In all such theories, patients and clinicians both play their equally important role in adjusting future psychosocial improvement of the disease. On the patients' side, it is the compliance and proactive approach and on the clinicians' side, pertinent adjustment techniques, follow up and regular monitoring skills are worth mentioning. (Clin Rehabil, 2010 24: 431-443).

It can therefore be concluded that patients self perception about the disease, patients planned objectives approach and clinicians overall approach towards disease and its management play vital role in rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS patients. All these collectively help in meeting the desired goal which is none but and improvement in the quality of life with regard to psychosocial parameters (Scobbie, 2009, 321-33).

The National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has defined chronic disease like AIDS as “illnesses that are prolonged, ...