States that a University of Miami psychologist reports that a
structured coping program that helps men accept the diagnosis of AIDS and
plan for the future minimizes depression and isolation. Study by Michael
H. Antoni; Has objective evidence that his ten-week cognitive behavioral
program aided immunologic function; Details of the program.
By
PT Staff, published on July 01, 1992
Beyond Denial
There's no good way to receive a diagnosis of HIV-positive. But
some ways are better than others.
A University of Miami psychologist reports that a structured coping
program that helps men accept the diagnosis and plan for the future
minimizes depression and isolation. What's more, it actually delays the
onset of full-blown disease.
Michael H. Antoni, Ph.D., has objective evidence his 10-week
cognitive behavioral stress-management program aided immunologic
function. Among 21 gay males who participated in the program after being
diagnosed as HIV+, lymphocyte counts improved and antibodies diminished
to herpes viruses co-factors of disease progression.
It sure beats denial as a coping strategy. "The use of denial is
related to depression and lower T-helper cell counts one year later and a
greater likelihood of disease progression two years later." Antoni
reported to a recent meeting of the Society of Behavioral
Medicine.
The program mixes problem-focused and emotion-focused coping
strategies:
o information about stress responses and risk behavior;
o instruction in progressive muscle relaxation technques and
relaxing imagery as means of anxiety reduction;
o modification of cognitive appraisals through cognitive
restructuring;
o assertion training to improve anger expression and conflict
resolution;
o group support and social network building to reduce
isolation.
Patients were taught to ask themselves "How are you dealing with
the threat of AIDS in your life?" and kept a journal of the ways they
learned to handle distress. The perceived control and self-efficacy may
have contributed powerfully to the effect. Now if only doctors would use
it as a model program for any unkind diagnosis.
ILLUSTRATION
Tags:
anger expression,
anxiety reduction,
assertion training,
cognitive appraisals,
cognitive restructuring,
coping,
diagnosis of hiv,
disease progression,
group therapy,
herpes viruses,
HIV,
hiv positive,
illness,
michael h antoni,
model program,
objective evidence,
progressive muscle relaxation,
risk behavior,
self efficacy,
society of behavioral medicine,
stress management,
stress management program,
stress responses,
threat of aids
