Stage of illness, level of HIV symptoms, sense of coherence and psychological functioning in clients of community-based AIDS counseling centers.

The psychological functioning of HIV-infected individuals in community populations has taken on new meaning and urgency for healthcare policymakers responding to the special challenges of the AIDS epidemic. The authors' objective is to test several hypotheses that predict depression and anxiety in adults infected with HIV. Data were obtained from 156 HIV-infected adults (age > or = 18) who sought support, counseling, and maintenance services from one of three HIV care and referral centers in the Mid-South. The results of the study emphasize the relative importance of perceived physical symptoms over stage of illness for psychological functioning among adults with HIV.