title: Psychosocial impact of a positive HSV-2 diagnosis on adults with unrecognized HSV-2 infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the current research on the psychosocial impact of a positive herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) diagnosis on asymptomatic adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured review of PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE resulted in 8 articles published between 2000 and 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were included if they investigated psychosocial reactions to HSV serological testing, including asymptomatic individuals, and used measurement instruments with adequate psychometric properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studies included participants of various backgrounds, including individuals with a new HSV-2 diagnosis concurrently receiving human immunodeficiency virus treatment, students within a university setting, and an HMO population. Current research indicates that a diagnosis of HSV-2 does not result in persistent psychosocial morbidity. However, studies that assessed for more nuanced reactions noted an impact on quality of life related to herpes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is needed to confirm these findings among varied populations, to explore quality of life following HSV screening, and to identify the characteristics that may make particular individuals more susceptible to adverse psychological consequences.
authors: George Town University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Allison
authors: A
authors: Provenzale
authors: Kara
authors: K
authors: Evans
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Russell
authors: Tammy
authors: T
authors: Hoory
authors: Hayley
authors: H
authors: Mark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult