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Abstract
Developments in anti-HIV medication have meant that people with HIV/AIDS are now living longer, with some authors arguing that HIV should now be defined as a manageable rather than terminal illness. However uncertainty about the long-term efficacy of such treatments remains. This research aimed to examine the psychosocial impact of the new treatments and to explore whether, and in what ways, they affect psychological wellbeing. Clients were also asked about their use of services and whether they thought services should be changing in response to new pharmacological treatments. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed to elicit the views of six service users. From multiple readings of the qualitative data generated, prominent themes were identified suggesting that participants had ambivalent feelings about taking antiretroviral combination therapy and that being well with HIV raised a number of difficult issues. Four main themes were revealed: (1) disruptions in daily living: antiretrovirals as intrusions to life, (2) the tablets as a visible marker for HIV infection, (3) tempered optimism and increasing horizons, (4) an uncertain and fragile future: life without benefits and services. The results were discussed in terms of limitations of the current study and suggestions for further research.
