Do Positive Psychosocial Factors Predict Disease Progression in HIV-1? A Review of the Evidence
- 1 June 2008
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Psychosomatic Medicine
- Vol. 70 (5), 546-554
- https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0b013e318177216c
Abstract
Adding to a traditional stress perspective, behavioral medicine has been focusing increasingly on investigating the potential impact of positive psychosocial factors on disease course in HIV. Dispositional optimism, active coping, and spirituality show the most evidence for predicting slower disease progression, although the data are not entirely consistent. Findings for the role of social support are mixed, although indications are that it may be particularly helpful at later stages of illness. Many of the other constructs (positive affect, finding meaning, emotional expression/processing, openness, extraversion, conscientiousness, altruism, and self-efficacy) have only been examined in one or two studies; results are preliminary but suggestive of protective effects. Plausible behavioral and biological mechanisms are discussed (including health behaviors, neurohormones, and immune measures) as well as suggestions for clinicians, limitations, future directions, and a discussion of whether these constructs can be changed. In conclusion, investigating the importance and usefulness of positive psychosocial factors in predicting disease progression in HIV is in its beginning scientific stages and shows good initial evidence and future promise. HAART = highly active antiretroviral therapy; NE = norepinephrine; VL = viral load; ARC = AIDS-related complex.Keywords
This publication has 115 references indexed in Scilit:
- Perceived Stress and Norepinephrine Predict the Effectiveness of Response to Protease Inhibitors in HIVInternational Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2008
- Effects of Psychological Interventions on Neuroendocrine Hormone Regulation and Immune Status in HIV-Positive Persons: A Review of Randomized Controlled TrialsPsychosomatic Medicine, 2008
- Written emotional disclosure and processing of trauma are associated with protected health status and immunity in people living with HIV/AIDSBritish Journal of Health Psychology, 2008
- Personality and HIV Disease Progression: Role of NEO-PI-R Openness, Extraversion, and Profiles of EngagementPsychosomatic Medicine, 2008
- Does Distress Tolerance Moderate the Impact of Major Life Events on Psychosocial Variables and Behaviors Important in the Management of HIV?Behavior Therapy, 2007
- An increase in religiousness/spirituality occurs after HIV diagnosis and predicts slower disease progression over 4 years in people with HIVJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2006
- To Take or Not to Take: Decision-Making About Antiretroviral Treatment in People Living with HIV/AIDSAIDS Patient Care and STDs, 2006
- Stress and Health: Psychological, Behavioral, and Biological DeterminantsAnnual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2005
- Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight.Psychological Review, 2000
- Relationship of psychosocial factors to HIV disease progression1,2,3Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 1996