title: Psychosocial aspects of acquired immune deficiency syndrome and the primary care physician.
abstract: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is now an epidemic in the United States. Multiple factors contribute to the high degree of psychosocial stress experienced by those with HTLV-III infection, regardless of their current clinical status. Family members, friends, and health care professionals all often experience significant stresses associated with HTLV-III infection or AIDS-spectrum illness in the patient. Knowledge about the psychosocial consequences of cancer, of the unique psychosocial stresses experienced by individuals with AIDS-spectrum illness, and of the functional psychiatric syndromes and organic mental disorders common to AIDS can assist the primary care physician as he cares for individuals with HTLV-III infection and AIDS-spectrum illness.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D006801:Humans; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000209:etiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D012940:Social Problems; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological