Psychological impact of HIV disease and implications for intervention.

The stress associated with HIV infection and the psychological impact of that stress have been documented. The complex issues that HIV-positive individuals encounter in managing their disease were described. The existing research on behavioral interventions designed to provide strategies to assist HIV-positive individuals cope with their disease was reviewed, and one particularly cognitive-behavioral intervention (Coping Effectiveness Training) was outlined. Given the evidence of the psychological distress that can accompany HIV disease and the consequences that accrue from this distress in terms of delayed access to care, nonadherence to treatment regimens, and quality of life, recommendations were made for health professionals interested in intervening to assist those who are living with the complex challenges of HIV disease.