Association of Alcoholism with Personality and HIV- A Hospital Based Study

People with alcohol use disorders are more likely, than the general population, to contact HIV. A history of heavy alcohol use has been correlated with the life term tendency towards high risk sexual behaviours, including multiple sex partners, unprotected intercourse and the exchange of sex for money and drugs. Present study aimed to see the personality profile of the alcoholic and its association with high risk sexual behaviours by using 16 PF questionnaire. The study consists of 50 diagnosed cases of alcohol dependence syndrome, according to DSM-IV who were assessed for sexual behaviour and personality. The Patients were also assessed once on their mini mental status examination and their score was more than 25. Result suggests that the overall personality profile of alcoholics reflects low frustration tolerance, expedients, feel few obligations, aggressive with suspicious traits. They have intrusive thoughts and impulses. These people have impulsive tension for which they are not able to locate the reason. The alcoholic patients are more apprehensive regarding their sexual efficacy and fear of becoming impotent. This leads them to go for more unexplored sexual act to check and re-check their sexual efficacy. These personalities are more prone to impulsive sexual indulgence which may be unprotected or sometimes unnatural (Homosexuality) leading towards STD. To conclude the findings it is clear that Alcoholic patients are more prone to HIV infections due to their personality and risky sexual behaviour. The findings can be well utilized for spreading knowledge and awareness of one's own temperament and its negative impact on their health.