Psychosocial profile and lived experience of HIV-infected long-term nonprogressors: a mixed method study.
The goal of this mixed method study was to describe the psychosocial profile of HIV-infected persons identified as long-term nonprogressors (LTNP), and their experiences of nonprogression. Data were collected from 24 participants with a mean age of 48 years and a mean duration of infection of 14 years. Results show rather moderate levels of anxiety and depression symptoms and a modest mean score of social support. Participants adapted by using acceptance, positive restructuring, and active coping strategies. Seven themes marked the experience: (a) reacting to announcement and dealing with diagnosis, (b) valuing interpersonal relations and well-being, (c) making changes in life, (d) coping with stress, (e) dealing with health care, (f) beliefs about reasons for nonprogression, and (g) living positively while dreading progression. The findings enrich a field of knowledge that has had little attention so far and shed light on the psychosocial profile of LTNP and their experiences of nonprogression.
José
J
Côté
Anne
A
Bourbonnais
Geneviève
G
Rouleau
Pilar
P
Ramirez-Garcìa
Mélanie
M
Couture
Brigitte
B
Massé
Cécile
C
Tremblay
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
HIV-infected persons; anxiety/depression; coping; long-term nonprogressors; mixed method; psychosocial profile; social support