Traumatic Stress and Resilience Process after the Announcement of Positive HIV / AIDS Diagnosis in Four Cameroonian Subjects.

Célestin Pierre Mboua¹, Issack Biyong²*, François Roger Nguepy Keubo³ and Raymond Tempier^4
1Department of Psychology, University of Dschang, Catholic university of central, Consultant at UNAIDS, Cameroon, Research at the Cameroonian Psychology Forum (FOCAP). Cameroon
²Swiss Institute of Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Training (ISM), Trauma and Transcultural Psychiatry Clinic (TTPC), Center of Psychotraumatology and Mediation (CPM). Institute of Psychotraumatology and Mediation (IPM-International), Neuchâtel, Switzerland
³Department of Psychology, University of Dschang, Cameroon, Palliative Care and Support Unit, St Vincent de Paul Hospital in Dschang/Cameroon
⁴Mental Health Program Hôpital Montfort, Ottawa, Institut du savoir Montfort (ISM), Ottawa, Ontario, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON., Canada
*Corresponding Author: Issack Biyong, Swiss Institute of Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Training (ISM), Trauma and Transcultural Psychiatry Clinic (TTPC), Center of Psychotraumatology and Mediation (CPM). Institute of Psychotraumatology and Mediation (IPM-International), Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Published: December 26, 2023

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Abstract  

Several studies suggest that HIV / AIDS is a pathology that causes a succession of traumas. These traumas are inaugurated by the announcement of the positive diagnosis and maintained by the course of the disease, at different levels, biopsychosocial. In addition to the attacks on life and the relationship, the authors have pointed out psychogenic problems related to the relationship with oneself and with otherness, as manifested by the many narcissistic, relational crises; the alteration of the relationship to sexuality, to life ... We also observe the emergence of many problems of self-esteem. The traumatic dimension of the disease is reinforced by the unspeakable nature of the perspective of one's own death, which is structured by the collective representations of the disease, the current absence of curative treatment ... The somato-psychic attacks and complications of the disease mobilize an important anxiety of death. Often faced with the need to survive, individuals must mobilize more or effective coping mechanisms to stave off the effects of traumatic stress-induced degradation. This work examines the impact of the trauma of the announcement of the positive HIV test and analyzes, in four female subjects, the implementation of mechanisms and guardians of resilience. Clinical and diagnostic interviews highlight three important groups of factors that contribute to resilience: specialized psychosocial support, social and family support, psychic elaboration mechanisms.

Keywords: HIV / AIDS; trauma, resilience; resilience tutors; idiosyncrasy; social support

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