Abstract
The pace of the new acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) discoveries and clinical complications is such that those actively involved in AIDS clinical research might feel caught in a vortex of events, many of which appear to be out of control. During the past 9 years, since the syndrome called AIDS was first described, I have attempted to observe and understand the response of the general public and various groups to the AIDS epidemic. The experimental work on which many of these observations is based is an ongoing study of approximately 1000 gay and bisexual men at high risk of AIDS. These men comprise the Chicago cohort of a Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), which is funded by the National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The aim of the MACS is to describe the natural history and epidemiology of AIDS and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), formerly known as HTLV-III or LAV-related disease. In Chicago, 95% of the MACS cohort is also participating in a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study of the psychosocial consequences of being at high risk of AIDS. In this chapter I present some models incorporating organizing principles to help us understand the context in which AIDS impacts on behavior. They are presented here in the hope that such organizing concepts may help us to impact in a constructive fashion on the psychological and social consequences of AIDS.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Curran JW: The epidemiology and prevention of AIDS. Ann Intern Med 103: 657–662, 1985.
Ostrow DG, Eller M, Joseph JG: Epidemic control measures for AIDS: A psychosocial and historical discussion of policy alternatives, in Carliss IB and Pittman-Lindeman M. (eds.): AIDS: Principles, Practices and Politics. New York: Hemisphere Publishing, 1988, pp. 19–31.
Ostrow DG, Altman NL, Wallemark C-B, et al: Patterns of homosexual behavior, 1979–1983, in Proceedings of the conjoint STD Meeting. Montreal, International STD Research Society, 1984, p 12.
Ostrow DG, Emmons CA, Altman NL, et al: Sexual behavior change and persistence in homosexual men, in Proceedings of the First International AIDS Conference. Atlanta, U.S. Public Health Service, 1985, p 71.
Joseph JG, Montgomery SB, Emmons CA, et al: Magnitude and determinants of behavioral risk reduction: Longitudinal analysis of a cohort at risk of AIDS. Psychology and Health 7: 73–96, 1987.
Fox R, Odaka N, Brookmeyer, et al: Effect of HIV antibody disclosure on subsequent sexual activity in homosexual men. AIDS 1: 241–246, 1987.
Ostrow DJ: A psychiatric overview of AIDS. Int J Neurosci 32: 647–659, 1987.
Ostrow DG: Issues and analysis: Psychiatric implications of AIDS. Masters Psychiatry 1: 21–23, 1985.
Ostrow DG, Monjan A, Joseph J, et al: HIV-related symptoms and psychological functioning in a cohort of homosexual men. Am. J. Psychiatry 146: 737–742, 1989.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ostrow, D.G. (1990). Psychiatric Aspects of AIDS. In: Ostrow, D.G. (eds) Behavioral Aspects of AIDS. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9386-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9386-4_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9388-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9386-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive