THE IMPORTANCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Abstract

Aim. Analyze the importance of psycho­logical care for the social adaptation of HIV-infected patients.

Materials and methods. The empirical basis of the study was the analysis of 30 medical records of inpatients hospitalized in the Infectious Department No. 3 of Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kharkiv during 2019. The majority were patients of working age, namely 25 people (83.3 %), with the average age of patients was (28.5±5.5) years. Patients during the study were divided into groups depending on the receipt of psychological assistance, psycho-emotional disorders, signs of social maladaptation.

Results of the research. Group 1 of patients consisted of 10 (33.3 %) patients who refused psychological care. Group 2, namely 20 (66.7 %) patients, consisted of patients who received psychological help immediately after the diagnosis of HIV infection and had less pronounced disorders.

A set of methods was used during the study: clinical and anamnestic method; the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was used to assess the presence of depression in patients; to determine the level of anxiety in patients used the Spielberger-Khanin anxiety questionnaire; determined the adherence of patients to treatment on the scale of assessment of Morisco-Green compliance.

Conclusion. The issue of adaptation of HIV-infected patients in society is a significant problem due to the low level of awareness about HIV infection, the ways of its transmission. The results indicate the need for psychological assistance to HIV-infected people at each stage, both at the time of diagnosis (prevention of depression, suicidal ideation) and during medical treatment (debriefing methods, creating support groups “peer to peer”), so accelerates the social adaptation of patients and the effectiveness of drug treatment.