A Study on the Impact of Counseling in Resolving Psychosocial issues of HIV/AIDS Patients

HIV as an illness affects the person first and foremost at the biological level in the form of an aggressive virus that compromises immunity. Every illness experience represents a unique and dramatic negative experience for the patient; it is associated with a profound and authentic psychological engagement of patients themselves and the significant people in their lives. One of the major challenges faced by India is the rapid growth of HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact upon human life. The AIDS patients suffering from severe anxiety and acute depression are unable to adjust within the given environment. Several studies have found that a substantial proportion of the chronically mentally ill report engaging in HIV risk behaviors. HIV infection adds stress to the already compromised coping skills of the mentally ill, while mental illness itself may increase the risk behavior and thus predispose the affected person to HIV. HIV-infected adults live in a social and cultural environment, and the economic and political conditions of the state that they live in directly affect these people. In this complex context there are specific developmental stages that all adults, regardless of their HIV status, tend to go through. The present study aims to assess the role of counseling as an effective technique for reducing psycho-social problems of AIDS patients. The sample comprised of 25 AIDS patients (17 male and 08 female). Purposive sample was used to select AIDS patients fromtwo ART Centers of Mysore City. Their age ranged from 20 to 40 years. The data was collected through interview schedule. Findings showed that counseling proved to be very effective therapeutic technique for reducing Psycho social problems of AIDS patients. Gender differences were also observed. Male AIDS patients experienced more psychological problems as compared to females.