Health-related quality of life in bereaved HIV-positive adults: relationships between HIV symptoms, grief, social support, and Axis II indication.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated a model of the impact of borderline and antisocial personality disorder indications on HIV symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in AIDS-bereaved adults, accounting for grief severity, social support, and years since HIV diagnosis.


METHODS
Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model in a sample of 268 HIV-seropositive adults enrolled in an intervention for coping with AIDS-related bereavement.


METHODS
Functional assessment of HIV infection, HIV symptoms.


RESULTS
The proposed model demonstrated excellent fit with study data and all hypothesized paths were supported. Personality disorder indication was directly related to HIV symptoms and HRQoL and indirectly related through both social support and grief severity. Social support was negatively related to HIV symptoms and positively related to HRQoL, while grief severity was positively related to HIV symptoms and negatively related to HRQoL. Finally, HIV symptoms had a direct negative relationship with HRQoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Personality disorders have a direct negative effect on HIV symptoms and HRQoL and indirect effects through grief severity and social support.
Hansen
Nathan B
NB
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. nathan.hansen@yale.edu
Vaughan
Ellen L
EL
Cavanaugh
Courtenay E
CE
Connell
Christian M
CM
Sikkema
Kathleen J
KJ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001601:Bereavement; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic