This book has assembled an array of chapters on the social and psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS and their impact on HIV/AIDS and related behaviours. The book addresses key areas of HIV and AIDS, including, but not in any way limited to, care-seeking behaviour, adherence, access, psychosocial needs and support services, discrimination and the impact the epidemic has on various sectors of the economy. The book has seventeen chapters; seven chapters deal with social aspects of HIV/AIDS, four with psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS, and the remaining six chapters with the impact of social and psychosocial factors on HIV/AIDS and related behaviours. The book is an essential reading for academics, students and other people interested in the field of HIV and AIDS.

Reviewed by Choice, February, 1998, with recommendation "for behavioral science collections. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty."Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This comprehensive text focuses on psychiatric issues associated with HIV/AIDS and provides clinicians with a basic understanding of epidemiology, virology, transmission, and medical treatments inclusive of occupational exposures. Psychosocial, spiritual, and sociocultural aspects of HIV/AIDS are covered, describing implications of HIV/AIDS across minority groups. The treatment section allows clinicians to organize an effective psychiatric treatment plan for all mental disorders associated with HIV/AIDS. Issues of adherence, prevention, and public well-being are emphasized throughout. The management of medical problems such as delirium, dementia, and pain management in special HIV/AIDS patients with co-morbid substance abuse as well as end of life care is also included.

Psychological treatments seek to support changes in patients's lives. Normally, they get better and move on with their lives. The time line is often different in dealing with the medically ill, including those with HIV. While making progress psychologically, patients may become more physically dependent. Divided into 3 parts, this book presents information and clinical material in a range of topics to support psychologically informed treatment of individuals who are HIV-positive. Each chapter proposes techniques and methods to address different concerns commonly encountered with this population. In addition, case studies are provided throughout.

HIV is spreading rapidly, and effective treatments continue to elude science. Preventive interventions are now our best defense against the epidemicâ€"but they require a clear understanding of the behavioral and mental health aspects of HIV infection and AIDS. AIDS and Behavior provides an update of what investigators in the biobehavioral, psychological, and social sciences have discovered recently about those aspects of the disease and offers specific recommendations for research directions and priorities. This volume candidly discusses the sexual and drug-use behaviors that promote transmission of HIV and reports on the latest efforts to monitor the epidemic in its social contexts. The committee reviews new findings on how and why risky behaviors occur and efforts to develop strategies for changing such behaviors. The volume presents findings on the disease's progression and on the psychosocial impacts of HIV and AIDS, with a view toward intervention and improved caregiving. AIDS and Behavior also evaluates the status of behavioral and prevention aspects of AIDS research at the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The volume presents background on the three institutes; their recent reorganization; their research budgets, programs, and priorities; and other important details. The committee offers specific recommendations for the institutes concerning the balance between biomedical and behavioral investigations, adequacy of administrative structures, and other research management issues. Anyone interested in the continuing quest for new knowledge on preventing HIV and AIDS will want to own this book: policymakers, researchers, research administrators, public health professionals, psychologists, AIDS advocates and service providers, faculty, and students.