PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AND RECURRENT GENITAL HERPES - A REVIEW OF PREDICTION AND PSYCHIATRIC-TREATMENT STUDIES

Objective: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the evidence whi ch supports the association between psychosocial factors and genital h erpes simplex virus recurrences (HSV), as well as to examine the biolo gical and psychological treatments for disease. Method: Forty-five stu dies were reviewed from the years 1928 to 1991. Studies were identifie d via computerized biographic literature search of Psychological Abstr acts and Medline. Additional studies were located by inspection of key article reference sections. Studies were included in the review if th e sample consisted of recurrent genital herpes sufferers and the desig n was either correlational or experimental. Cases studies were reviewe d if they described HSV psychiatric treatment and provided outcome inf ormation. Results: Psychosocial variables are important elements in th e prediction, maintenance, and management of recurrent genital herpes. Furthermore, the effectiveness of psychological treatment regimes may be explained via psychoimmunological theory. Conclusions: Psychosocia l treatment should be considered as adjunctive therapy for biological treatment of recurrent HSV infections. Future research should address primary prevention of genital herpes and other sexually transmitted di seases, including HIV infections.