AIDS, HIV and Mental Health / Edition 1

by Michael B. King

Overview

First published in 1993, this book provides a concise, critical account of the mental health aspects of HIV infection as it affected patients, their partners and families, health professionals and other carers in the early 1990s. The author, whose research, teaching and practice were conducted in an academic department of psychiatry, offers a considered and objective overview of the information on psychological and behavioural aspects of AIDS and HIV, challenging a number of ill-founded attitudes and opinions. Prefaced by clear explanations of the biological and neurological effects of infection, the particular and often very complex problems encountered by patients and health workers are explored in this volume. The author provides an informed assessment of reports and studies from around the world, including, where available, data from developing countries. He also contributes case histories, insights and practical advice for a wide readership in the mental health field and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521423564
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/02/1993
Series:	Psychiatry and Medicine
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.47(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Fear of infection and psychological reaction to the diagnosis; 3. Persisting psychological disorder; 4. Persisting psychological disorder: assessment, diagnosis and management; 5. Neuropsychiatric aspects of AIDS infection; 6. Sexual behaviour and behaviour change; 7. Illicit drug use and HIV infection; 8. Special groups; 9. Health professionals and associated care givers; 10. Consequences for professionals, informal carers, friends and families; 11. Stress, psychological disorder and the immune system; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Katie Busch, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This book reviews the mental health aspects of HIV infection. It identifies issues common to patients and families as well as the specific problems raised for health professionals in general and mental health professionals in particular.
Purpose: The stated purpose is to provide a brief, critical account of the mental health aspects of HIV infection as it impacts on patients, their partners and families, and health professionals and other caregivers, with specific reference to the context of stigma for this illness.
Audience: This book is written for mental health professionals. The issues are presented broadly enough and discussed with enough depth and sophistication to be appropriate for this audience. In addition, the book is written clearly enough to be quite useful for those at a clerkship level or for other professional caregivers.
Features: There are no illustrations or other special features, but they are not necessary. The index and table of contents are quite adequate. The references are extensive and extremely current. Although they are most concentrated in books and journals from the United States and Great Britain, the references cover world experience in this area to date.
Assessment: This is a very useful book. It is concise and clearly written and presents a critical review of world literature on mental health aspects of HIV infection. The book delineates common concerns and fears about HIV seen in the general public, patients, and caregivers. It also identifies current research conclusions about diagnosis and treatment in the context of methodologic limitations, highlighting the questions still to be answered.

Doody's Review Service