Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome-like Symptoms among AIDS Caregivers

Abstract

Interviews were conducted with 43 mothers of AIDS fatalities 2 or 3 years following their sons' deaths. Eighty-four percent of the mothers who devoted full-time care to their sons for substantial periods of time showed a cluster of symptoms normally associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Only 8% of those who did not engage in extended care experienced three or more of these symptoms.