LIAISON PSYCHIATRY AND HIV-INFECTION .2. APPLICATION OF RELAXATION INHIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

We examined the efficacy of relaxation techniques in a sample of HIV p atients without AIDS in the early stages after infection, by comparing the three groups: relaxation group (progressive muscle relaxation and modified autogenic training); ordinary supportive psychotherapy group , and finally no psychiatric treatment group. Scores for anxiety, fati gue, depression and confusion, as measured by the profile of mood stat es (POMS), were significantly lower after relaxation than before. Ther e were no significant differences in the POMS scores (except for anger ) among the three groups. These two results suggest that a combination of progressive muscle relaxation and modified autogenic training is a useful method, which can be easily employed in HIV patients without A IDS.