Taking the anxiety out of AIDS

Abstract

AIDS‐generated anxiety may occur in the general public, health staff, patients and high‐risk individuals. Anxieties associated with AIDS create confusion in the patient and chronic anxiety may generate a ‘pseudo‐AIDS’ condition, the somatic features of which may be misinterpreted as evidence of the disease. Furthermore, chronic anxiety itself may be immunosuppressive. Management requires multistage intervention involving: relaxation, cognitive techniques, peer‐group support, health education, ‘marital’ therapy, drug therapy and hospitalization. Educating patients is not enough; the general public must be continually reminded that this infection is no respector of gender or sexual orientation.