Resumo

BLANCO GONZALEZ, Orestes; BLANCO GONZALEZ, Bárbaro  e  DUENAS BECERRA, Jesús. Human Immunodeficiency virus and Hansen's ilness: their psychosocial perception. Rev. cuba. psicol. [online]. 2003, vol.20, n.1, pp. 48-49. ISSN 0257-4322.

The present work seeks to compare the perception of the psychosocial impact that the illnesses stigmatized by the society cause: the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hansen's illness. To that end, the only well-known person in Cuba suffering from both diseases was selected, who is under the ambulatory care system, offered by the Ministry of Public Health to every person seropositive to that virus. A comprehensive study of the psychosocial evolution, from the moment the HIV antibodies were detected until now, was carried out. The patient was interviewed who manifested to have been much more rejected socially for having the HIV than for suffering from Hansen's illness, a situation that may come from the sociocultural fact that the patient resides in "El Rincón", the place where the antileprous hospital is located. This rejection unchained, in the patient's affective sphere, a depressive reaction associated with inferiority feelings, symptoms treated by means of antidepressants and support psychotherapy with satisfactory results.

Palavras-chave : HIV-AIDS; Hansen's Illness; Psychosocial Research; Depressive Reaction; Psychopharmacotherapy; Psychotherapy.