ABSTRACT
Although AIDS-related mortalities are declining in the United States, new and increasing HIV infections continue to create lifethreatening challenges. HIV may be described as a series of epidemics impacting diverse populations in unique ways, creating special populations with unique threats and burdens. These may be described as “rebound epidemics.” Some changes have helped limit increasing infections in some populations, whereas other areas are reporting rebounding infection rates. Although the incidence of HIV infections has stabilized, the increasing survival pattern means people infected tend to be surviving longer, which challenges the care delivery systems as more people live with chronic HIV infections (Lee, Karon, and Selik, 2001). The impacts of new infections have caused many persons living with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) to require assistance in coping with the psychosocial sequalae to HIV/AIDS. These challenges change as new medical treatments change the overall course of HIV disease and the biopsychosocial impacts of this persisting life-threatening disease. The generalist model focus of this book examines common problems and experiences not only by identification of problems and possible solutions, but also by building on the strengths which are drawn upon to confront the challenges of HIV/AIDS.
