We have known for decades that stress is immunosupressive and exacerbates many health conditions or retards improvement. Now comes a new study providing clinical evidence that stress may accelerate progression to AIDS among HIV-infected people.
For 5.5 years, researchers studied 82 HIV-positive gay men, initially nonsymptomatic, checking semi-annually for disease status, depression, stressful life events, and social support. Their findings: the probability of progressing to AIDS during the study period was two to three times higher for men with more than average stress or with less than average support than for those below the median on stress and above the median on social support. Progression was not linked to specific incidents of stress, but the researchers point to the cumulative effects of stressful life events and low levels of social support on HIV disease progression.
Since the beginning, AIDS service providers have promoted stress reduction as a serious management tool in immune health. The HIV Wellness Center, in particular, has focused on various forms of body work, from massage to exercise, as a technique for controlling stress. It turns out that our intuitive approach was scientifically correct. (For details, see Psychosomatic Medicine, June 1999)
— Sandy Bartlett, Community Information/Education Coordinator AIDS Services of Austin
ASA Info Line: 458-AIDS, E-mail:ASA@fc.net
This article appears in June 4 • 1999 and June 4 • 1999 (Cover).