BACKGROUND: Although approximately 20% of the population has a genital herpes (HSV-2) infection, 80% of these infections are unrecognized or asymptomatic. Serologic identification of HSV-2 leads to recognition of infection, which could lead to behavioral changes that reduce transmission. However, there has been concern that HSV-2 testing among persons without symptoms will cause substantial psychosocial harm. GOAL: The goal of this study was to assess the psychosocial impact of an HSV-2 diagnosis among individuals without a history of genital herpes attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic. STUDY: We conducted a cohort study of persons with no history of genital herpes attending an STD clinic and seeking herpes testing. Two follow-up interviews were conducted 1 week and 3 months after persons received their test results. Serum was tested using HerpeSelect 2. Psychosocial morbidity was assessed at baseline and each follow up using a mental health score, sexual attitude score, and perception of genital herpes score. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent (41 of 196) of participants tested positive for HSV-2 antibody. Among patients who were HSV-2-positive, there was no significant change in mental health score from baseline during either follow-up visit, nor was there any difference compared with persons who were HSV-2-negative. Patients who were HSV-2-positive did have a decline (P = 0.01) in their sexual attitude scores at the 1-week follow up compared with persons who were HSV-2-negative, indicating a decrease in positive sexual attitude, but this difference no longer remained at the 3-month follow up (P = 0.74). Patients who were HSV-2-positive viewed having genital herpes as significantly less traumatic than patients who were HSV-2-negative at both follow-up visits (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: There was no apparent lasting adverse psychosocial impact of detecting HSV-2 infection among individuals without a history of genital herpes seeking herpes testing at an STD clinic.
BACKGROUND: Although approximately 20% of the population has a genital herpes (HSV-2) infection, 80% of these infections are unrecognized or asymptomatic. Serologic identification of HSV-2 leads to recognition of infection, which could lead to behavioral changes that reduce transmission. However, there has been concern that HSV-2 testing among persons without symptoms will cause substantial psychosocial harm. GOAL: The goal of this study was to assess the psychosocial impact of an HSV-2 diagnosis among individuals without a history of genital herpes attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic. STUDY: We conducted a cohort study of persons with no history of genital herpes attending an STD clinic and seeking herpes testing. Two follow-up interviews were conducted 1 week and 3 months after persons received their test results. Serum was tested using HerpeSelect 2. Psychosocial morbidity was assessed at baseline and each follow up using a mental health score, sexual attitude score, and perception of genital herpes score. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent (41 of 196) of participants tested positive for HSV-2 antibody. Among patients who were HSV-2-positive, there was no significant change in mental health score from baseline during either follow-up visit, nor was there any difference compared with persons who were HSV-2-negative. Patients who were HSV-2-positive did have a decline (P = 0.01) in their sexual attitude scores at the 1-week follow up compared with persons who were HSV-2-negative, indicating a decrease in positive sexual attitude, but this difference no longer remained at the 3-month follow up (P = 0.74). Patients who were HSV-2-positive viewed having genital herpes as significantly less traumatic than patients who were HSV-2-negative at both follow-up visits (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: There was no apparent lasting adverse psychosocial impact of detecting HSV-2 infection among individuals without a history of genital herpes seeking herpes testing at an STD clinic.
Authors: S L Rosenthal; G D Zimet; J S Leichliter; L R Stanberry; K H Fife; W Tu; D I Bernstein Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 3.519
Authors: J L Meyer; R A Crosby; W L H Whittington; D Carrell; R Ashley-Morrow; A S Meier; R D Harrington; R DiClemente; A Wald Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 3.519
Authors: Hayley Mark; Joy P Nanda; Alain Joffe; Jessica Roberts; Anne Rompalo; Johan Melendez; Jonathan Zenilman Journal: J Am Coll Health Date: 2008 Nov-Dec
Authors: Sebastian S Fuller; Syed Tariq Sadiq; Rachel Hill-Tout; Emma M Harding-Esch; Agata Pacho; Martina Furegato Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-06-30 Impact factor: 2.692