Personality disturbance in adolescents living with HIV/AIDS: a review

Abstract

This paper presents a review of theoretical and empirical research on personality disturbance in adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. First we discuss the relationship between mental health in adolescents and HIV/AIDS, and second we provide an overview of personality disturbance in adolescence with particular attention given to: (a) the prevalence and presence of personality disturbance in adolescents living with HIV/AIDS (b) the effect of personality disturbance on compliance on antiretroviral treatment and (c) stress of an HIV diagnosis in adolescents with personality disturbance. In conclusion treatment issues and recommendations are discussed.

The Dynamics, Dilemmas and Complexities of AIDS: The Cultural Context of Botswana

“…HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa is mainly heterosexual and sexual activity frequently starts at the adolescent stage (Johnston, 2011). Complex problems that make HIV/AIDS a salient problem for psychosocial health of adolescents include stigma, problems with parental disclosure of own or children's HIV status, impulsivity of young people and disruption in parental care as a result of parental death.…”