Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Illness Behaviour in HIV+ Patients

Abstract

24 asymptomatic HIV+ patients completed the Impact of Event Scale and the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire. Analysis indicated above-average scores on posttraumatic stress reactions as well as significant intercorrelations of this score with scores on three factors on the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire, namely, hypochondriasis, affective inhibition, and disease conviction. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in terms of these findings.