Protease inhibitors and the new AIDS combination therapies: Implications for psychological services

Practicing psychologists face many challenges in caring for people living with HIV infection, including keeping abreast of new treatments and their impact on the psyche. Highly active antiretroviral therapies, which include protease inhibitors, demand particularly strict adherence to cumbersome treatment regimens, potentially interact with psychotropic medications, are not universally accessible, and may lower vigilance against AIDS. The promises of new treatments are also not always realized, and treatment failures pose significant psychological ramifications. In keeping pace with the ever-changing AIDS epidemic, psychologists and counselors should be aware of the promises and the realities of advances in medical treatments for HIV infection.