A survey of psychologists' education, knowledge, and experience treating clients with HIV/AIDS.

Abstract

Deaconess Family Medicine Residency andSaint Louis UniversityBarry KatzSaint Louis UniversityPracticing psychologists are providing services to persons with HIV infection and those at-risk forAIDS. However, most practitioners have not received formal training about HIV/AIDS. In this study,the majority of psychologists surveyed had treated persons at-risk for the virus but had not receivedHIV/AIDS information in formal educational programs. Most respondents obtained knowledgethrough popular media. There is a growing body of specialized knowledge about HIV/AIDS formental health professionals. In addition to better serving HIV-infected clients, psychologists withcurrent multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS knowledge will be valuable members of health care teams.Between 500,000 and 1 million people in the United Statesare currently believed to be infected with the human immunode-ficiency virus (HIV; Kalichman, 1996; U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services, 1995). Each year, 5% to 10% ofinfected persons develop AIDS (Mann, Tarantolay, & Netter,1992). Given these prevalence rates, many practicing psycholo-gists will provide services to persons with HIV/AIDS. Althoughpsychologists will not be directly treating the infectious process,practitioners should have basic information about HTV infection.Social behavior may play a role in acquiring the virus; in turn,infection may be associated with altered cognitive, emotional,and relationship functioning (Kalichman, 1995).Despite the fact that psychologists play a valuable role inproviding risk-reduction counseling, treating comorbid psychi-LAURIE SCHMELLER-BERGER received her PhD in clinical psychologyfrom Saint Louis University in 1992. She is currently in independentpractice in Akron, OH.PAUL J. HANDAL received his PhD in clinical psychology from SaintLouis University in 1969. He is a professor in the Department of Psychol-ogy at Saint Louis University, where he has directed the PhD in clinicalpsychology training program and the Psychological Services Center. Hisinterests are in professional issues and development.H. RUSSELL SEARIGHT received his PhD from Saint Louis University in1984. He is director of behavioral science at the Deaconess FamilyMedicine Residency Program as well as clinical associate professor ofpsychology at Saint Louis University and clinical associate professor ofcommunity and family medicine at Saint Louis University School ofMedicine. His interests include the interface between psychology andprimary medical care, ethics, and family therapy.BARRY KATZ received his PhD in research methodology from MichiganState University in 1975. He is a professor in the Research MethodologyDepartment at Saint Louis University, where his interests include multi-variate analyses.CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS ARTICLE should be addressed to H.Russell Searight, Deaconess Family Medicine Residency Program, 6125Clayton Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63139.atric disorders, evaluating neuropsychological functioning, andimproving coping skills with HIV-positive patients, little is knowabout practitioners' knowledge and continuing education in thisarea. Formal training programs, including graduate institutionsand internships, have lagged behind in educating trainees aboutHIV/AIDS (Campos, Brasfield, & Kelly, 1989; Pingitore &Morrison, 1990).It is likely that greater emphasis has been give to AIDS educa-tion more recently. However, many psychologists completed for-mal training before the AIDS epidemic. Thus, although psychol-ogists are treating persons with HIV infection and AIDS, littleis known about practitioners' competence in this area. We con-ducted a survey to assess practicing psychologists' knowledgeabout HIV and AIDS as well as their sources of informationabout the illness.