CLIENT PROGRESS IN HIV GROUP THERAPY

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease characterized by the failure of the immune system to protect the body from diverse and life-threatening illnesses. The first cases of AIDS were observed in 1981 when researchers identified the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as having penetrated lymphocytes, macrophages, and cells of the nervous systems of a small sample of gay men, resulting in the development of rare cancers.

The HIV virus is a retrovirus whose own genetic code is integrated with that of the host cell in such a way that when the host cell subdivides, the virus is itself reproduced. While the system develops antibodies to fight the invading virus, Francis and Chin (1987) have noted that:

...one of the most remarkable aspects of HIV is its propensity for producing a persistent viremic ('carrier') state in a high proportion of infected people despite the presence of antibody. (p.1359)

In other words, the antibodies do not serve the protective function that they are normally designed to fulfill. Today, it is possible to detect these antibodies and so identify those persons who have been infected by the virus.

While the progression of the HIV infection is not yet well understood, Francis and Chin note that it has been established that the retrovirus destroys the "helper" (T4) subset of T lymphocytes which are these cells considered to be cri

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ument developed by Yalom (1985) called The Group Cohesiveness Questionnaire; and (3) their perceptions of several selected therapeutic factors associated in the existing group therapy literature with effective group processes; these perceptions were measured using a researcher-designed instrument, The Group Therapy Progress Questionnaire. Since group effectiveness can vary as a function of such factors as the extent of illness men are currently experiencing, and the amount of time they have been in group therapy, perceptions of both group cohesiveness and selected therapeutic factors will be examined to see whether they significantly differ as a function of differences in either amount of time spent in group therapy or level of illness currently being experienced. Research Questions The research questions which were addressed in the study can be delineated as follows: 1) To what extent are sample subjects experiencing illness associated with ARC or AIDS? (No evidence of illness, minor signs of illness but able to carry on normal activity, able to care for self but unable to carry on normal activity or do normal work, able to care for most needs but requires some assistance; requires considerable assistance and frequent medic
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2209
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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