Psychological aspects of HIV infection in children.

Despite advances in the pharmaceutical treatment of HIV disease, there are still an increasing number of people living with the disease, and an increasing number of children and adolescents are personally affected by the epidemic. The psychological effects on these children are significant and relate not only to a parent's degree of illness and the threat of death but also to the association of the disease with substance abuse and the pervasive effects of the stigma that surround it. To intervene optimally on behalf of these children, programs must be multidisciplinary and take a holistic approach to address specific social and psychological issues and ensure stability in a child's care giving.