Behavioral medicine interventions can improve the quality-of-life and health of persons with HIV disease

Interventions to enhance the quality-of-life and health of persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease are becoming increasingly important as the number of people with HIV increases and as medical treatment regimens extend their life expectancy. Behavioral medicine approaches carry considerable promise for the treatment of disorders associated with HIV disease, including HIV-related nutritional disorders, pain management, sleep disorders, and treatment adherence. This article summarizes the literature on the prevalence of these disorders in HIV disease, reviews established behavioral medicine interventions for the disorders, and discusses how behavioral medicine interventions might be applied to the HIV manifestation of the disorders. Efforts to apply behavioral medicine approaches to improve life quality, alleviate sequelae of illness, and improve health outcomes in persons with HIV disease are urgently needed.