The Efficacy of Group-Based Logotherapy on Hope of Life in HIV Patients in North of Iran

Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are unable to find meaning in their lives, and drown in crisis. Logotherapy attempts to place a barrier against psychosis and depression by focusing on tangible and meaningful goals. The present study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of group logotherapy on the hope of life in patients with AIDS. In the present interventional study, 50 people with eligibility criteria of minimum junior high school education and receiving no treatment for depression were selected as the sample out of 180 HIV-infected patients attending a counseling center for behavioral diseases and positive club in the city of Rasht. Then, 24 participants with lower hope-of-life scores were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 10 sessions of group logotherapy, but the control group received no education. The hope of life defined as positive motivational state was determined using Schneider's Hope Scale with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81. The scale has two components of agency defined as goal-directed energy, and pathways defined as planning to meet goals. The results from intervention and control groups were then compared using analysis of covariance. In the intervention group, mean score for hope of life increased from 33.58 (SD=7.92) at beginning of the study to 47.67 (SD=7.47) after intervention, but reduced in the control group from 36.67 (SD=3.98) at beginning to 34.33(SD=4.71) after intervention. The analysis of covariance showed that adjusted mean scores of hope of life, and its components including agency and pathway in the intervention group were significantly higher compared to the control group. According to the results, logotherapy in HIV patients had a positive effect on increasing hope of life.