BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE INTERVENTIONS CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY-OF-LIFE ANDHEALTH OF PERSONS WITH HIV DISEASE

Interventions to enhance the quality-of-life and health of persons wit h human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease are becoming increasingly important as the number of people with HIV increases and as medical t reatment regimens extend their life expectancy. Behavioral medicine ap proaches carry considerable promise for the treatment of disorders ass ociated with HIV disease, including HIV-related nutritional disorders, pain management, sleep disorders, and treatment adherence. This artic le summarizes the literature on the prevalence of these disorders in H IV disease, reviews established behavioral medicine interventions for the disorders, and discusses how behavioral medicine interventions mig ht be applied to the HIV manifestation of the disorders. Efforts to ap ply behavioral medicine approaches to improve life quality, alleviate sequelae of illness, and improve health outcomes in persons with HIV d isease are urgently needed.