Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

‘Psychological therapy needed in HIV/AIDS treatment’

VISAKHAPATNAM: Counselling forms a part of HIV/AIDS treatment. However, the kind of counselling required depends upon the psychological condition of the person and the intensity of the symptoms. One view is that the HIV/AIDS required counselling by professionally qualified persons.

“The patient requires psychological interventions. The stigma attached to HIV should be removed and he needs family as well as partner’s support. Interpersonal relationships and relationship building is part of it,” says the Head of the Department of Psychology and Parapsychology of Andhra University, M.V.R. Raju. Psychological therapy should include cognitive behaviour therapy identifying belief systems and emotional behaviour pattern, he says. Besides, relaxation techniques should be followed. These measures along with medication will increase the life span of the HIV/AIDS persons, he says.

Dr. Raju along with NDS Nagaseema, a research scholar, conducted a study of HIV/AIDS persons at the KGH in Visakhapatnam. In a sample of 54, including 32 women, 24 per cent are found to be extremely depressed and 26 per cent severely depressed. Psychotherapy involving personality change or restructuring, is found to be more effective. Five persons with a high score of extreme depression were selected for group as well as individual interventions. The results showed that the depression levels came down from 25 per cent to below 5 per cent. Dr. Raju and Ms. Nagaseema published a paper on the study in the AP Akademi of Sciences’ journal.

Dr. Raju feels that only those who have studied Counselling Psychology are professionally qualified and should be involved in counselling. Not only for HIV/AIDS, for patients of cancer, diabetes and in post-operative care for heart patients, support through counselling will be effective. In the West, the support is part of the treatment where Medical Counselling is a branch of study.

Presently, the Medical and Health Department uses the services of persons qualified in MA (Social Work) and Psychology for counselling. “It can’t be denied that those who have studied psychology are better suited. Our experience shows that irrespective of the branch of study the attitude of the counsellor matters a lot,” says P. Rajendra Prasad, Additional DM&HO (Leprosy and HIV/AIDS). But the existing level of counselling is of a high order, he says, quoting an instance.

A widow who suffered suicidal symptoms came back from the verge and attributed her resilience to the counsellor and the support he extended.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, however, admits that there is need for more counsellors. With the flow of persons needing it erratic, sparing time has become a problem.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Women urged to hone their skills
Filaria prevention drive from Nov. 15
Online current reservation counter
CPI(M) cries foul
Tuition fee received
‘Psychological therapy needed in HIV/AIDS treatment’
Vizag youth completes world tour
Selected for study tour
Visakhapatnam today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu