PERCEIVED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND STAGE OF DISEASE IN MALE-PATIENTS WITH HIV-INFECTION

Perceived emotional support is considered important in buffering the a dverse effects of life-threatening conditions, e.g. AIDS. The aim of t he present study was to investigate (1) which aspects of perceived emo tional support are associated with depression, anxiety and suicidality in patients with HIV-infection, and (2) whether perception of emotion al support is influenced by the stage of disease. 40 male patients wit h HIV-infection, most of them homosexuals (no drug-addicts, no signs o f neuropsychiatric impairment) were investigated. A Perceived Emotiona l Support Scale, Zung's Selfrating Depression Scale and Spielberger's State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory were administered. To assess suicidality , a clinical interview was carried out. Stage of disease was determine d according to CDC-classification and CD4-cell count. The data indicat e that (1) aspects of perceived emotional support concerning regulatio n of self-esteem in relation to a key figure are of greatest importanc e in predicting depression and state-anxiety and (2) emotional support is perceived significantly better in patients with low CD4-count, i.e . in those patients facing the greatest threat.