Applying the chronic illness Trajectory Model to HIV/AIDS.

The Corbin and Strauss chronic illness trajectory model is particularly helpful in explaining the different phases of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) disease, since this infectious process is characterized by both phases and subphases. The model is not particularly helpful in identifying when the illness trajectory begins, since the model starts with the onset of symptoms, and HIV disease is characterized by a long, symptomless phase. The importance of politics and economics is also underestimated when applying this model to HIV disease. While this model presupposes the existence of support systems as being significant others, HIV disease is unique in that whole family systems may be eliminated by this infectious process, i.e., the typical pattern of HIV disease in the 1990s is that of a father dying from AIDS, a mother sick with HIV disease, one or more siblings infected, and one or more siblings coping with tremendous losses at a very young age.