A study has shown that a positive state of mind can be almost as effective as drugs at fighting serious disease. Researchers found that therapy can significantly reduce the amount of HIV virus in gay men suffering from the disease. Earlier research has suggested a link between grief and a weakened immune system.
Doctors also know that stress can exacerbate many illnesses.
However, the study, published in the Journal of Human Virology , is the first to show how actively giving therapy to people can lead to an immediate improvement in their physical health. More than 100 gay men who were HIV positive and had lost a partner from Aids in the previous six months were split into two groups. One set was given grief therapy and the other sent on a community programme. The therapy encouraged crying and venting, figuring out how to face the future, and learning ways to deal with stress. Blood tests were given before and after the 10 sessions, and it was found that the therapy significantly reduced the amount of the HIV virus in men.