The psycho-emotional profile of the HIV-positive naïve patient

The paper aims to outline the naïve HIV-positive patient's profile, in terms of feelings and emotions post-diagnosis.

The evaluation took place from January 2011 to December 2013 in the Psycho-social Assistance Office of the "Sfânta Parascheva" Infectious Diseases Hospital in Iaşi. We evaluated 146 patients newly diagnosed with HIV infection, both in terms of immunological and virusological and from a psychological perspective, using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI) and the clinical interview.

In a period of 3 years (January 2011 - December 2013) we registered in the HIV/AIDS Regional Center in Iaşi, 146 new cases of HIV infection in adults, with distribution by years as follows: 46 in 2011, 45 in 2012, 55 in 2013; 39 cases were in Iaşi, 39 in Suceava, 26 in Botoşani, 18 in Neamţ 18, 16 in Bacău and 6 in Vaslui. Of these, 51 were women and 95 men, aged between 24 and 46 years. From the immunological point of view, 11% of patients had values of CD4 > 500 (16 patients), 47% between 500 and 100 (69 patients) and 42% < 100 (61 patients). From a psychological perspective, the clinical interview revealed a state of fear in 68.5% of cases (fear of death, fear of complications, fear of other people's reaction to the diagnosis), confusion in 62% of cases (in terms of diagnosis, the mode of infection, the future), anger in 27% of cases (against the source of infection, against themselves, against God or divinity), guilt and self-blame in 7% of cases. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) revealed moderate depression in 14% of patients; mild depression in 27% of patients and 58% of patients presented no symptoms of depression. Regarding the anxiety scale HAMA, in 54% of cases it showed mild anxiety, average anxiety in 28% of cases, 14% severe anxiety and 3% (4 cases) very severe anxiety.

Patients newly diagnosed with HIV are a vulnerable population with a specific psycho-emotional profile. Multidisciplinary knowledge--in medical, psycho -emotional and social terms--of the patient's characteristics and needs helps to support adherence to the antiretroviral therapy and improve the quality of life.