[SOME ASPECTS OF THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE MENTAL STATE OF PEOPLE WITH THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS].

The purpose of this article is to study individual aspects of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental state of PLHIV. The study covered 146 patients with HIV-related diseases who attended the outpatient department of the communal enterprise "Dnepropetrovsk Regional Center for Socially Significant Diseases of the Dnepropetrovsk Regional Council" during September-October 2020. HIV-infected were interviewed using a self-developed questionnaire. We used integrative test of anxiety by A.P. Bizyuk to investigate anxiety. The frequency of increased anxiety over the past half year among respondents is 15.75%; frequency of insomnia, weight loss, eating disorders - 12.32%; In 10.42% (n=15) cases, PLHIV had episodes of acute feelings of fear, palpitations, shortness of breath, chest tightness, panic while watching news about COVID-19. A high level of average value of situational anxiety among PLHIV was revealed - 7.8 (1.3) stanins - M (SD), in the structure of which "social defense reactions", a phobic component and anxious assessment of prospects prevail. 74.6% of HIV-infected strictly adhered to additional protection against COVID-19; 63.01% - considered crowded places a threat to their health; 52.74% were afraid to get sick with COVID-19; 49.31% - had an increased interest of PLHIV in COVID-19 in Ukraine and the world. The respondents used the following additional methods of protection: self-isolation (60%), strict adherence to distance (75%), disinfection of their belongings and household items (10%). The mental state of PLHIV during the coronavirus pandemic indicates the presence of symptoms of distress: the manifestations of anxiety-depressive disorders, insomnia have increased, a fixation has appeared on their physical condition, social isolation and distancing have increased. Further research into the characteristics of the psychoemotional state of PLHIV will help improve the organization of medical and social assistance in the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.