Psychological problems of HIV-infected patients in preparing to the start of antiretroviral therapy

VIČ-infekc. immunosupr.

2021

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The first generation of children living with HIV since their infancy are growing up and create a new unique group of patients at AIDS Center. Young adults living all their life with chronicle disease that is stigmatized by the society especially in connection with sexuality, have same sexual and reproductive needs and rights as their HIV-negative peers. Aim of this study was to investigate attitudes, needs and social norms toward reproductive and sexual health among adolescents and young adults living with HIV since infancy, as well as their sexual behavior. Among 27 young males and females of 16–20 years old who have lived with HIV since infancy and who took part in anonymous on-line questionnaire, 50% are sexually active. Most of them didn’t experience restrictions in their sexual and reproductive rights, nevertheless they often feel fear of transmitting HIV sexually to the other person. Adolescents and young adults perinataly infected with HIV are willing to use condom during sex and disclose their HIV status to their partner, however they have difficulties in more «complicated» social situations. They have a need in talking about sexual and reproductive health.

Рsychosexual needs and sexual behavior of adolescents living with HIV since infancy

Safonova¹,

VIČ-infekc. immunosupr.

2021

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Psychological care for HIV-infected patientsat the St. Petersburg AIDS Center: history and the present time

2021

jour

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The psychological state of people living with HIV is suffering from the moment when the diagnosis of HIV infection is perceived to the onset of remission during treatment. To achieve real effectiveness of HIV treatment, it is important to use not only the potential of modern pharmacotherapy, it is equally important that all people living with HIV receive psychological support in overcoming the difficulties arising from daily regular intake of drugs throughout their lives. Psychologists who are working at the AIDS Center are ready and conduct crisis counseling, extended counseling on adherence to treatment, psychological diagnostics to identify disorders which prevent the initiation and continuation of drug therapy, psychological correction in case of treatment interruptions. The use of traditional psychological methods should be based on knowledge of the characteristics of the disease and the specific treatment of HIV-infected people, which is currently being acquired in real clinical conditions. The article summarizes the many years of experience of the team of psychologists at the St. Petersburg AIDS Center and presents a model of modern psychological care for HIV-infected people based on knowledge of the characteristics of the disease, its prevention and specific treatment.

Cognitive impairment and cognitive reserve, their correlations with behavioral features of patients with human immunodeficiency virus during hospitalization

V.M. BEKHTEREV REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRY AND MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Мошкова

2021

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The goal is to study the features of the cognitive reserve (CR) in HIV-infected patients admitted to the hospital, the relationship of CR with cognitive disorders, stress and coping strategies, taking into account the drug history.Materials and methods. The study was conducted in the hospital of the Saint Petersburg Center for the prevention and control of AIDS and infectious diseases in 2019. Methods were used: 1) The Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq); 2) Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); 3) «Methods of coping behavior» by R. Lazarus. 4) Modified Impact of Event Scale (IES-R); 5) The Somatic Symptom Disorder — B Criteria Scale (SSD-12).Results. The study involved 57 HIV-infected patients (43.9% — women). The median age was 39.6 years. The correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between the KR index and the «non-professional activity» subscale (r = 0.847, p = 0.000), age (r = 0.299, p = 0.024) and MoCA indicators (r = 0.290, p = 0.029). Indicators of the KR subscale «professional activity» have a negative relationship with the indicators of coping strategies «distancing» (r = -0.379, p = 0.004), «self-control» (r = -0.355, p = 0.008), «positive revaluation» (r = -0.293, p = 0.030), «problem solving planning» (r = -0.283, p = 0.035). MoCA indicators in patients with HIV infection are associated with the CR «Education» subscale (r = 0.306, p = 0.021) and the General CR index (r = 0.290, p = 0.029). Obsessive feelings and thoughts related to the impact of HIV infection are more often experienced by patients who have never abused drugs and are involved in professional activities than by patients with experience of drug use.Conclusion. Cognitive impairment and cognitive reserve in HIV-infected patients admitted to the hospital of the AIDS Center are related to coping behavior.