Document 2928
 DOCN  M94A2928
 TI    Psychological approach to AIDS patients.
 DT    9412
 AU    Costa LM; Azevedo RC; Estadual University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):192 (abstract no. PB0195). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369647
 AB    OBJECTIVES: The multidisciplinarian attendance and the patient's life
       graph study, their relationships, the specific situation during the
       disease's early stage, evaluating how psychological factors may
       influence in this moment. At the same time, to observe the importance of
       approaches such as: familiar relationship, health team, depressive and
       anxious reactions; first contact with the positive results of the HIV
       test until disease evolution, worsening of clinical conditions, and
       death. METHODS: Only HIV-positive patients are attended as well as those
       with an already critical stage of the disease, put into the nursery or
       as an outpatient on the Infecto-Parasitarian Diseases Department of the
       Pedreo Ernesto Universitarian Hospital. Attendance is made by Medical
       Psichology professionals, taking into account criteria such as patients
       solicitations, previous psychiatric data or presentation of a
       psychopathologic chart during clinical treatment. Patients are attended
       during individual psychotherapy sessions, with a technique which
       combines support and backing up, catharsis, informations, reflections,
       besides interpretative approaches. All of this is in co-operation with a
       psychiatric and anxious reactions, as well as psycho-organic cases and
       eventually through the use of psychopharmaceuticals. During a 2-year
       period, 45 patients were observed: 35 homosexuals, 4 bisexuals, 4 blood
       receptors, 2 women and one intravenous drug addict, with a total of 18
       demises. In 51% of the cases psychological attendance was the diagnostic
       reactions. Patients were aged between 29 and 56, with 42% between 30 and
       40. At the end of the treatment, 23% of the homosexual patients were
       still attending to psychotherapy, with 43% of them abandoning it. It was
       noticed that 40% of the deceased patients had their clinical charts
       progressively weakened, though allowing psychological attendance still
       the terminal phase. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Lack of information and
       support is harmful to clinical cre and prevention. Patients supported in
       loss situations (job, friends, body activities control and partners),
       hospital interning and exams seem to apply more frequently to the
       outpatient department's care and, when necessary, in a shorter interning
       time. Experience with individual psychotherapy with AIDS patients
       suggests more psychological attention beginning from diagnosis, passing
       through the evolutive and terminal phases of the disease and making use
       of these means as preventive tools with those HIV-infected though
       assymptomatic. Group psychotherapy may be another means able to attend
       to the internees demand. The understanding of these patients life
       dimensions can be another contribution for the improving of hospital
       attendance.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PSYCHOLOGY  *Adaptation,
       Psychological  Adult  AIDS Serodiagnosis/PSYCHOLOGY  Brazil  Female
       Human  HIV Seropositivity/PSYCHOLOGY  Male  Middle Age  Patient Care
       Team  Psychotherapy  *Sick Role  Social Support  MEETING ABSTRACT

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