Document 1985
 DOCN  M94A1985
 TI    The relevance of the psychosomatic approach in the treatment of HIV
       positive asymptomatic patients.
 DT    9412
 AU    Stoeckicht I; Verissimo J; Institute of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rio de
       Janeiro, Brazil.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):406 (abstract no. PD0231). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370590
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Determining to what extent the listening and the practical
       attitude of the health professionals dealing with HIV-positive patients
       can influence the evolution of the clinical aspects of the disease.
       METHOD: 46 low-income, HIV positive patients, within the age bracket 20
       to 60, were interviewed at least three times at Hospital Universitario
       Gafree e Guinle. From the 46, we selected the 28 asymptomatic ones and
       divided them into two groups: Group A was composed of patients who had
       looked for psychotherapy within one to two months having been informed
       about the contamination; Group B was composed of patients who looked for
       psychotherapy approximately one year after being informed about their
       contamination. A set of dependent variables was taken into consideration
       in the correlation with the appearance of psychosomatic symptoms. These
       variables comprise of crucial and stressing moments in the lives of the
       HIV positive: 1. the expectation before the exam result; 2. The first
       medical consultation; 3. the first periodical exams; 4. the appearance
       of the first symptoms; 5. the beginning of AZT intake; 6. the disclosure
       of the contamination to friends and family and 7. the reaction after
       friends' and family's reactions. The data extracted from the interviews
       were analyzed under the conceptual framework of psychoanalysis, within a
       psychosomatic perspective. RESULTS: We observed that there was a high
       correlation between the dependent variables and the appearance of
       emotional disturbances followed by psychosomatic symptoms, for patients
       in Group B. Patients from Group A did display psychosomatic disturbances
       but to a much lesser extent. More importantly, while patients in Group B
       presented a high stress level favoring immunodepression right after the
       crucial moments, patients in Group A had these levels controlled by the
       relief mechanisms triggered during therapy. CONCLUSION: When assistance
       focuses only on the organic aspects of being HIV positive, there was a
       marked tendency for the patient to develop a dissociation psychic/soma,
       reinforcing psychic defenses that tend to build psychosomatic reactions,
       when facing the crucial moments during the course of the disease.
       However, if psychological assistance is also given, immunodepression
       seems to lessen and the patient's practical attitudes toward the disease
       become more effective, decisively influencing in the evolution of AIDS.
 DE    Adult  Comparative Study  Human  HIV
       Seropositivity/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY/*PSYCHOLOGY/*THERAPY  Middle Age
       Psychoanalysis  *Psychophysiologic Disorders  Psychosomatic Medicine
       Psychotherapy  CLINICAL TRIAL  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).