HIV Illness and Mental Distress in Female Clients of AIDS Care and Referral Centers

With the rapid growth of HIV infection among women, the issue of how medical problems influence psychological functioning in the female population has acquired new meaning and urgency for health care policy on patient care. To develop effective strategies to meet the mental health needs of infected women we need a better understanding of the pattern of association between HIV and psychological distress. The objective of this study is to test several hypotheses that predict depression and anxiety in 95 adult females with HIV. This analysis addresses the following question: Is the level of perceived coherence, i.e., the extent to which individuals derive meaning and purpose in their lives despite their stage of HIV illness and degree of symptomatology, related to the level of psychological functioning?