EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES IN HIV-INFECTION

1. The evaluation of emotional disturbances, depression and anxiety in 25 HIV-Positive paired with 25 HIV-Negative male homosexuals and a co ntrol group of 15 HIV-Negative male heterosexual have shown the presen ce of emotional perturbations and especially of an emotional blunting, in absence of depressive or anxious episode in HIV-Positive subjects. 2. Emotional perturbations were the lowest in the HIV-Negative hetero sexual group. 3. These results raise the question of the emotional def icit as an adaptative process or as the direct action of the virus. 4. Its relationship with the other emotional perturbations and their imp act on the evolution of the disease are discussed.