Diminished affective behavior is a frequently observed concomitant of cognitive dysfunction in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), yet little is known about their relationship. A neuropsychological battery and electroencephalogram (EEG) recording was conducted on 29 HIV+ (Mage = 35.6 years, SD =5.36) and 30 HIV- (Mage =32.9 years, SD =6.39) women recruited from a family AIDS care program in South Florida. Using an emotion regulation paradigm, we compared event-related potentials (ERPs) following cues to view-neutral, view-negative and reappraise-negative images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS). A group X instruction interaction was found for the P200 and early (400-1000 ms) late positive potential (LPP). Executive function, i.e., frequent task-switching predicted the attenuation of the early and late LPP following cues to up-regulate negative emotions. Greater response inhibition predicted attenuation of the LPP during the down-regulation of negative emotions. These findings suggest limited cognitive resources for the reappraisal of emotions in women with HIV. / by Roger Christopher McIntosh. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Resource allocation theory, Polich (2007) suggests cortical measures may attenuate when processing demands increase. Thirteen HIV-negative women (M = 36.5) and 15 HIV-positive women (M = 36.1) infected were instructed to view neutral and negative IAPS images and then to detect rare tones in a subsequent auditory oddball task. A 2 x 2 ANOVA for the auditory P3 did not indicate a main effect for picture valence however an interaction was found between picture valence and serostatus at location Fz, F(1,24) = 18.99, p<.001. During the visual ERP sequence an interaction between valence and serostatus was found at the Pz location, F(1,24) = 18.99, p<.001, meaning the late positive potential (LPP) was not modulated between viewing neutral and negative images in HIV-positive women. These findings suggest that the manifestation of HIV in women may alter the neural processing of emotions, though not to the detriment of a subsequent cognitive task. / by Roger C. McIntosh. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Background Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), have high rates of psychiatric morbidity. The effects of HIV on the Central Nervous System may lead to psychiatric morbidity even before the appearance of the full-blown AIDS syndrome. Sero-prevalence studies of patients with psychoses have found an estimated 5-20% to be HIV positive. However, sero-prevalence estimates vary from study to study due to the differences in sampling by geographic location, socio-economic class, race and ethnicity, and psychiatric-diagnostic composition. The Republic of South Africa has some of the highest prevalence rates in the world and research in this field is escalating rapidly. However research on HIV in patients with mental illness, particularly psychosis is very sparse. Aim of the study To determine the prevalence of HIV sero-positivity amongst patients admitted to Town Hill hospital presenting with first episode psychosis. Method All patients presenting to Town Hill hospital with first episode of psychotic symptoms were recruited to participate in the study. The treating doctor in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team made the diagnosis of Psychosis. A total number of 63 patients participated in the study. Results. 23.8% of the patients tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus. Conclusions. The prevalence of HIV sero-positivity is high amongst patients presenting with first episode psychosis. The HIV epidemic could have an important effect on the aetiology and clinical presentation of psychosis. Recommendations State mental health authorities should pursue the promotion of voluntary HIV testing programs, in patients presenting with first episode psychosis as soon as they are capable of giving informed consent. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

This critical interpretivist case study explored students’ experiences of an HIV/AIDS service learning module run in the School of Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The study was originally initiated in response to a request from CHESP to evaluate this module. It has since become an independent study with the purpose of exploring the kind of learning (HIV specific) that students gained from the module. A number of studies have attempted to explore students’ experiences of service learning through students’ evaluations, or have focused on the effects of the community intervention on the community. These are often of a quantitative nature and do not engage with students' experiences on a deeper level. They also tend to focus on measuring students’ knowledge and understandings of HIV/AIDS. The objective of this study was to qualitatively explore whether students had experienced a genuine engagement in the service learning module, focusing on their level of reflection on their identities, their understandings of self and other, and their understandings of their own location within the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Furthermore, there would need to be evidence of Freireian critical consciousness. Using the voicecentred relational method of analysis, reflective essays of the 20 students who completed the service learning module in 2006 were analysed. The findings of the study revealed that most of the students had engaged at this level and were able to reflect on a number of critical issues that are pertinent to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study provides the impetus for further research to be conducted in the field of service learning, as it is a valuable educational tool for getting students to engage critically and openly with issues around sexuality and HIV. Moreover, the findings of this study should be used to promote service learning with a focus on HIV/AIDS in other degree programmes, as well as other tertiary institutions. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Ph.D. / The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has taken on pandemic proportions world wide, providing the health care system with the greatest challenge since its existence. At present, infection with the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is incurable, fatal and dangerously contagious influencing the health of the public as well as exerting profound effects on political, social and economic circumstances of the world. The challenge was and still is, to develop an effective treatment method for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and /or Clinical AIDS. Up to the present time no effective treatment method has been found, as the retroviral agents typically only cause a temporary inhibition of the progression of the HIV and not a permanent cessation of the activity of the virus. In the absence of any pharmacological treatment, behavioral interventions and in particular biopsychosocial interventions utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy and ergometric aerobic exercise take on particular importance as adjunctive treatment methods, especially during the asymptomatic and early symptomatic HIV, (CDC stages 2 and 3 and WR stages 2-4 A), but non-Clinical AIDS stages. Adding Electromyographic-feedback assisted relaxation training to the above therapeutic modalities increased the likelihood of addressing specific physiological variables associated with HIV-seropositivity, and served as a direct operant intervention in indirectly enhancing immune system functioning, through psychophysiological mechanisms or by means of the relaxation effect which it produces. In South-Africa the HIV\ AIDS situation is further compounded by a number of social and economic factors in a society expressing rapid political changes against a background of apartheid. Herein, issues of poverty, violence, proper medical care for HIV sufferers, especially in the rural areas where antiviral medications and other health services are not easily accessible, inadequate housing and unemployment place even greater burdens on the already under-served HIV sufferer. With the above aspects in mind and considering the seriousness of the AIDS pandemic in South-Africa as well as the absence of effective pharmacological agents in curing this disease, an 8-week combined biopsychosocial treatment intervention utilizing individualised cognitive-behavioral therapy, aerobic exercise and Electromyographic-feedback assisted relaxation training was developed. The objective of this research was to determine whether the combined biopsychosocial treatment intervention that had been developed would serve as a successful adjunctive treatment method to the present pharmacological treatments, especially during the asymptomatic and early symptomatic stages of HIV-infection where the apparent sluggishness of immunological functioning may be most amenable to interventions that enhance effector functions and communication between CD4 T-lymphocytes, CD8 T-lymphocytes, macrophages and B cells via increases in lymphokine production. The intervention further aimed to decrease depression, physiological tension and anxiety and fatigue levels, as well as increase vigor-activity levels important in the overall health status of HIV-seropositive patients. The intervention was implemented on a group of South- African asymptomatic and early symptomatic (CDC stages 2 and 3 and WR stages 2-4 A) HIV- seropositives. The results of the research revealed no statistically significant between-group differences in any of the cellular immune measurements. Clinically and statistically significant withingroup differences were however found in baseline to post-test measures of total lymphocyte counts in subjects of the experimental group. Statistically significant between-group differences were also found in the tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, fatigue-inertia and vigor-activity levels of experimental subjects as compared to control group subjects. The study further found that subjects who recorded lower depression and tension-anxiety levels at baseline and post-intervention phases had higher CD4 -T lymphocyte counts and therefore, increased resistance to HIV-related infections and diseases. The study also revealed significant within-group differences in terms of the baseline to post-test relaxation effect of the EMG-feedback assisted relaxation training, as well as clinically significant within-group increases in the CD4-T lymphocyte counts of experimental subjects who experienced this relaxation effect.

Bibliography: pages 175-180. / Vanuit die staanspoor moet beken word dat hierdie skripsie nie daarop uit is om die outoriteit op die gebied van die gay-psige te wees nie. Die studie wil slegs fokus op sekere aspekte van die letterkunde wat aanduiding bevat van die ervaring van gay-persone binne die samelewing, en die impak van hierdie ervaring op die gay-individue se psige.

Assignment (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adherence to medical regimes and the difficulties associated with patient adherence are well documented. Furthermore, non-adherence with prescribed medication is ubiquitous. Regarding HIV, strict adherence to combination highly active antiretroviral therapy regimes is a prerequisite for immunological reconstitution. Certain factors have been identified as predicting non-adherence. However, the role of personality variables on adherence has been neglected, specifically with regards to personality pathology. Moreover, there is a high rate of comorbidity between HIV and Axis II disorders, including BPD. Despite controversy, the DSM-IV-TR identifies nine fundamental criteria required for the diagnosis of BPD to be made. These criteria are considered separately in an attempt to elucidate their potential role on non-adherence. Clinically, it is likely that the criteria interact to create a gestalt effect, further complicating adherence. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Patient voldoening ter mediese aanbevele en die probleme geassosier daarmee is goed gedokumenteer. En verder is dit allerdags dat patlente nie met hul voorgeskrewe medikasie voldoen nie. In verband met MIV, streng voldoening tot HAART is a voorvereiste vir immunologiese hersamestelling. Sekere faktore is geidentifiseer wat voldoening en die teenoorgestelde daarvan voorspel. Alhoewel, die rei van persoonlikheid veranderlikes op voldoening is nie in ag geneem nie, spesifiek in verband met persoonlikheid patologie. Bowenal, is daar n hoe frekwensie van komorbiditeit tussen MIV en As II steurings, insluitend BPO. Ten spyte van kontroversie, die OSM-IV-TR identifiseer nege fundementele kriteria, waarvan vyf teenwoordig moet wees vir n diagnose van BPO. Hierdie kriteria word individueel bespreek in n poging om hulle impak op patiente voldoening te illustreer. Klinies is dit heel moontlik dat daar interaksie is tussen die kriteria wat n gestalt effek sal skep, wat voldoening weer verder sal kompliseer.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper provides an overview and critical evaluation of current (1990-2001) research into Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), with particular reference to factors affecting quality of life (QOL) among those living with the disease. A brief look at the importance of optimal QOL when faced with a life crisis such as HIV/AIDS, leads to a discussion of factors influencing QOL in HIV/AIDS. These factors include coping styles, mental adjustment, social support, stigmatization, socio-economic and socia-cultural factors, gender, depression as well as disease progression. The overview is informed by prominent research trends and a critical look at the current understanding of factors impacting on the QOL of people living with HIV/AIDS. Recommendations are made on issues that need further clarification, while future research orientations are also suggested. In the absence of satisfactory treatment strategies or a cure for HIV/AIDS, as well as the evidence of a potentiall0 to 12 year life expectancy, there is a pressing need for a better understanding of factors that influence QOL. There is strong support for the notion that QOL directly impacts on disease progression and therefore also on the quality and quantity of survival time. It follows that a better understanding of the nature and determinants of QOL for HIV patients will yield valuable intervention guidelines within a biopsychosocial framework. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie artikel bied 'n oorsig en kritiese evaluering van onlangse (1990-2001) navorsing in die veld van Menslike Immuniteitsgebrek Virus (MIV) en Verworwe Immuniteitsgebrek Sindroom (VIGS), met besondere verwysing na faktore wat bydra tot die lewenskwaliteit van geïnfekteerde indiwidue. Die belangrikheid van optimale lewenskwaliteit teen die agtergrond van 'n lewenskrisis soos 'n MIV-diagnose, word kortliks bepsreek. Daarop volg In bespreking van faktore wat In invloed het op lewenskwaliteit in HIV/AIDS. Hierdie faktore sluit in hanteringstyl, psigiese aanpasbaarheid, sosiale ondersteuning, stigmatisering, sosio-ekonomies en sosio-kulturele faktore, geslag, depressie asook siekteverloop. Die oorsig word gerugsteun deur prominente navorsingstendense asook 'n kritiese blik op huidige perspektiewe op faktore wat 'n impak het op die lewenskwaliteit van mense wat leef met MIVjVIGS. Aanbevelings word gemaak aangaande aspekte waaroor verdere helderheid verkry moet word, asook oor toekomstige navorsingsvraagstukke. Gegewe die afwesigheid van voldoende behandelingstrategieë of selfs 'n geneesmiddel vir MIV, tesame met die bewys van 'n 10 tot 12 jaar potensiële lewensverwagting, bestaan daar 'n dringende noodsaaklikheid vir grondiger insig in faktore wat lewenskwaliteit beïnvloed. Daar is sterk steun vir die uitgangspunt dat lewenskwaliteit 'n direkte impak het op siekteverloop en derhalwe ook op die duur en kwaliteit van oorlewingstyd. Verbeterde kennis oor die aard en determinante van lewenskwaliteit in MIV-pasiënte sal dus waardevolle inligting kan verskaf in terme van toepaslike riglyne vir intervensies binne 'n biopsigososiale raamwerk.

The South African HIV/AIDS epidemic has reached startling proportions in the last decade. Although the disease itself makes no distinction between age, race or gender, for a variety of historical, cultural, biological and socio-economic reasons, it currently affects more women, particularly black women, than men. Therefore this study examines the narratives of HIV positive, black, resource-poor, mothers who have gained access to free antiretroviral treatment. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of this treatment on their lives and how they cope with having HIV/AIDS. Their narratives were collected during interviews and then a modified version of Mauthner & Doucet's (1998) voice-relational method was used to analyse the data. The five transcripts were firstly discussed as separate stories, focusing on their background and the voice of I. Subsequently, six central shared themes were examined, these were: poverty, relationship with partner, stigma and discrimination, support, acceptance/religion, hope and strength. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

This thesis focuses on the concerns of rural and urban women living with HIV/AIDS in the Walvis Bay area. The development of effective pastoral care and counselling models in the study of Walvis Bay women is the approach of this thesis. It is an interpretation, from a women's perspective within the Walvis Bay tradition of their status, role, culture and experiences. The purpose of my research, is to try to address women's crisis of HIV/AIDS through pastoral care and counselling. It is my hope that the women of Walvis Bay area will regain their dignity, that they will be empowered and the interaction between healing, sustaining, guiding and reconciling models will be implemented as a tool to deal with their crisis. Although this study focuses on the women in the Walvis Bay area, the questions and sufferings concerning the issue of HIV/AIDS is similar in the rest of Namibia. The main emphasis of this study is in chapter five and six. Chapter five discuss reconciliation and the dynamics of the process of social reconciliation with the women in Walvis Bay contracted with HIV/AIDS. This includes the uncovering of the truth of HIV/AIDS, the destroying of the narratives of lies and the establishment of the reality of the spread of the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. Chapter six discusses the need for effective models of pastoral care and counselling for urban and rural women in Walvis Bay. By doing so it will transform relationships in trust, harmony and peace. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.