A comparative study of anxiety among HIV seropositive individuals, cancer patients and individuals from the normative population

Abstract

Excessive anxiety contributes to a sense of helplessness in which a person feels little control over the present or future and continues maladaptive behaviour patterns. In view of the negative influence of long standing anxiety, the present study attempts to find an answer regarding the possible differences between the prevalence and impact of anxiety in HIV seropositive individuals, cancer patients and individuals from the normative population. Anxiety is a major health harzard in HIV seropositive individuals. This is so because it is probably one of the factors responsible for the quick progression of their HIV seropositive status to AIDS.