A psychosocial treatment intervention for recurrent genital herpes: an investigation of psychoneuroimmunology

Abstract

Thirty-one (11 males and 26 females) individuals with recurrent genital herpes were recruited from two cities, 15 (five males and 10 females) from Blacksburg, Virginia and 16 (six males and 10 females) from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to participate in a four Assessment Period (Before treatment, After treatment, 12-week Followup, and 26-week Followup) study. They were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Psychosocial Intervention groups, Social Support groups, or Waiting-List control groups. Each condition was comprised of two, five-member groups (i.e., one group for each city), with six-members in the Pittsburgh Waiting-List condition. Two individuals of this latter group failed to complete the study . Six, consecutive, weekly, 96-minute group treatment sessions were conducted for the first two conditions, Waiting-List controls were offered treatment after the 26-week Followup period. Psychosocial Intervention involved: HSV information, interpersonal conflict discussions , relaxation training , stress management instructions, and suggestive-imagery techniques. The Social Support groups shared feelings and experiences about the disease, and served as placebo controls . Significantly greater reductions in herpes episode frequency, severity, and duration were reported by the Psychosocial Intervention individuals after treatment, than by individuals in the other two conditions. Similar improvements, in Psychosocial Intervention individuals, were found for the emotional distress, social support, and cognitive measures. It was concluded that Psychosocial Intervention was effective in reducing the chronicity of recurrent HSV infections as well as facilitating adjustment to the disease . Results were discussed according to psychoneuroimmunologic theory.