Does Posttraumatic Growth Buffer the Association Between Death Anxiety and Quality of Life Among People living with HIV/AIDS?

Addressing the unmet mental health needs of people living with HIV: a scoping review of interventions in sub-Saharan Africa

Some mental health interventions have addressed mental health among people living with HIV (PLWH) using a variety of approaches, but little is known about the details of such interventions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region that bears the largest burden of HIV in the world. The present study describes mental health interventions for PLWH in SSA regardless of the date and language of publication. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines, we identified 54 peer-reviewed articles on interventions addressing adverse mental health conditions among PLWH in SSA. The studies were conducted in 11 different countries, with the highest number of studies in South Africa (33.3%), Uganda (18.5%), Kenya (9.26%), and Nigeria (7.41%). While only one study was conducted before the year 2000, there was a gradual increase in the number of studies in the subsequent years. The studies were mostly conducted in hospital settings (55.5%), were non-pharmacologic (88.9%), and interventions were mostly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling. Task shifting was the primary implementation strategy used in four studies. Interventions addressing the mental health needs of PLWH that incorporates the unique challenges and opportunities in SSA is highly recommended.

Posttraumatic growth and well-being among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis in recognition of 40 years of HIV/AIDS

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize, analyze, and critically review existing studies on the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and psychological well-being (operationalized either via positive or negative well-being indicators) among people living with HIV (PLWH). We also investigated whether this association varies as a function of socio-demographic, clinical characteristics, and study publication year.

METHOD

We conducted a structured literature search on Web of Science, Scopus, MedLine, PsyARTICLES, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. The most important inclusion criteria encompassed quantitative and peer-reviewed articles published in English.

RESULTS

After selection, we accepted 27 articles for further analysis (N = 6333 participants). Eight studies used positive indicators of well-being. The other 19 studies focused on negative indicators of well-being. Meta-analysis revealed that there was a negative weak-size association between PTG and negative well-being indicators (r = - 0.18, 95% CI [- 0.23; - 0.11]) and a positive medium-size association between PTG and positive well-being measures (r = 0.35, 95% CI [0.21; 0.47]). We detected no moderators.

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis and systematic review revealed expected negative and positive associations between PTG and negative versus positive well-being indicators among PLWH. Specifically, the relationship between PTG and positive well-being indicators was more substantial than the link between PTG and negative well-being measures in these patients. Finally, observed high heterogeneity between studies and several measurement problems call for significant modification and improvement of PTG research among PLWH.

The role of identity in chronic pain cognitions and pain-related disability within a clinical chronic pain population

OBJECTIVE

Chronic pain has a significant impact on functioning and results in the disruption of one's assumed life trajectory, potentially altering their self-perceived identity. The present research is designed to determine whether identity-related issues are associated with common chronic pain cognitions and pain-related disability, which may help inform understanding of clinical chronic pain populations.

METHOD

Ninety-eight adult chronic pain patients were assessed at a local pain clinic during a regularly scheduled appointment focusing on pain management. Multivariate hierarchal regression was used to determine whether issues related to identity and death anxiety were associated with pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, and pain-related disability, above and beyond pain severity, fear-avoidance, and age.

RESULTS

Self-concept clarity was significantly related to pain catastrophizing and pain acceptance, above and beyond death anxiety, pain severity, fear-avoidance, and age. Death anxiety was associated with pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, and pain-related disability above and beyond pain severity, fear-avoidance, and age.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first examination of self-concept clarity and death anxiety as they relate to pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, and pain-related disability. These descriptive results support the inclusion of identity and death anxiety within the pain experience and could serve as a foundation for future directions relevant to clinical applications.