Chapters authored
The Psychological Impact on Families of Departed Patients with Infectious Diseases
Looking back into history, infectious diseases played an important role in human history being responsible, in terms of pathologies, for more deaths than any other disease. Considering that infectious diseases have a high rate of transmissibility, with an acute debut and sometimes with a fast evolution to exitus, the impact of the news on families of the departed patient diagnosed with an infectious disease can come as a shock. Processing the unexpected death of a family member needs not only the implication of the physician but also the counseling of a specialized psychologist which can help the families through all stages of loss and grief.
Part of the book: Bioethics in Medicine and Society
The HIV Positive Adolescent in a Pandemic Year: A Point of View
In the HIV/AIDS Regional Center from Iasi, Romania, over 1440 patients are closely followed-up. A small percent <1% (12 patients) of cases are represented by adolescences between 14 and 18 years old. The majority of those (10 cases) are adherent and compliant with the treatment. None of the patients is a drug abuser and one patient acquired the infection through vertical transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic, paradoxically, increased the adherence and compliance to treatment, mainly because it seems that the HIV infected adolescent acknowledge the fact that good health can shield them from an unknown enemy. In these pandemic times, they experienced anxiety and depression, but they kept a closer contact through telemedicine with their physician, and most importantly, they required a sustained session, also through telemedicine, with the psychologist. The red thread of their discussion was focused on their fear, insecurities, and lack of control and the fact that they experienced the feeling of abandonment caused by the absence of interpersonal interaction with their support group.
Part of the book: Adolescences