BACKGROUND People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) face challenges including lack of social support and mental health issues like psychological well-being and quality of life. Coping with HIV may be facilitated by their social support network. Perceived social support might act as a buffer to stress-related crises and may aid in psychological well-being. The aim of this study is to study perceived social support and psychological well-being among people living with HIV and AIDS. MATERIALS AND METHODS60 PLWHA irrespective of WHO-clinical staging, ART status and duration of illness were subjected for the study. Socio-demographic data, Kuppuswamy's revised socioeconomic status scale, Multidimensional scale of perceived social support and Psychological general well-being index (PGWBI) were administered to study population. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical methods to measure percentage, mean and correlation. Setting-Study was done in the Department of Psychiatry in association with ART Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital attached to KAPV Government Medical College, Trichy. Study Design-This is a cross-sectional -observational study. RESULTSIn total, 60 study subjects Males and Females participated in equal number. Study reveals no significant relationship between sociodemographic profile and perceived social support. Psychological well-being had significant relationship with occupation and treatment status of an individual. Study infers there was statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being of an individual. CONCLUSIONWith participants from different stages and duration of illness, the perceived social support of individuals had been significantly associated with psychological well-being. These findings signify the need for the health care providers to address mental, social support needs and optimise HIV related health outcome.

HIV infection and psychiatric disorders have a complex relationship. Being HIV infected could result in psychiatric disorders as a psychological consequence of the infection (or) because of the effect of HIV virus on the brain. AIM: To evaluate the personality profile and associated psychiatric co morbidity of people living with HIV/AIDS and to analyze the correlation between the two in a tertiary care center. MATERIALS & METHODS: PLWHA on ART irrespective of WHO-clinical staging, CD4 count, and duration of medication were subjected for study .The socio-demographic data, Kuppusamy's revised socio economic status scale and Eysenck personality questionnaire. Revised were administered to study population. ICD 10 clinical and diagnostic criteria were used to diagnose current and past psychiatric disorders. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. RESULTS: In total 50 study subjects, 12(24%) were diagnosed to have psychiatric morbidity. Further, 26% among males (5 out of 19 males) and 24% among females (7 out of 29 females) were found to have psychiatric morbidity. Mood disorders were the common diagnosis in our study group which comprises about 58% (7 out of 12). Other diagnoses noted in the study were substance dependence (Alcohol, nicotine 16.6%), non-organic insomnia (16.6%) and delusional disorder (8.3%).In personality profile assessment, 72% of study population exhibited psychotic traits, 42% showed high neurotic traits and 18% scored high in High Extravert traits. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of psychiatric disorder (24%) is similar to other reported studies. Even though females demonstrated higher mood disorder there is no gender difference in psychiatric morbidity. Staging of HIV illness showed significance in psychiatric morbidity. No significant personality profile was found. Most of them expressed mixed personality traits.