Document 2005
 DOCN  M94A2005
 TI    Psychosocial problems in HIV-seropositive population after receiving the
       test results in Russia.
 DT    9412
 AU    Belyaeva V; Routchkina YeV; Pokrovsky VV; Russia AIDS Research Centre,
       Moscow.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):401 (abstract no. PD0213). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370570
 AB    OBJECTIVE: This work was aimed at identifying basic psychosocial
       problems of HIV-infected individuals after receiving the test results.
       METHODS: Over 4 years we have followed 225 patients. Among those there
       were 151 males (average age 30.2 +/- 0.8 years) and 74 females (average
       age 28 +/- 0.9 years). RESULTS: In most cases our patients present with
       the following problems: 1. Fear of a breach of confidentiality,
       resulting in loss of a job. 2. Thoughts of inevitable death due to a
       lack of treatment. Patients see no difference between being HIV-infected
       and having AIDS. 3. Apprehensions regarding possibility of passing the
       infection on to loved ones. It should be noted that social aspects of
       HIV infection give rise to the most concern. Being an outcast socially,
       loss of job, difficulties in trying to find a new job--these are the
       most significant emotional problems of our patients. They are less
       concerned with the state of their health. However, following appropriate
       psychotherapy aimed at convincing the tested individuals that
       confidentiality would be maintained, the issues pertaining to survival
       start to gain priority. CONCLUSION: The work so far conducted has
       demonstrated that the problems of our patients do not differ in
       principal from the difficulties of similar cohort abroad. Creation of a
       supportive system for the HIV patient would contribute to their
       rehabilitation and prolonged active life.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PSYCHOLOGY  Adult  Attitude to Death
       Cohort Studies  Comparative Study  Confidentiality  Cross-Cultural
       Comparison  Employment  Fear  Female  Human  HIV Infections/PSYCHOLOGY
       HIV Seropositivity/DIAGNOSIS/*PSYCHOLOGY  Male  Russia  MEETING ABSTRACT

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