2017 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 191-202
The present article reports a case study of a patient who recovered from prolonged depression with HIV-infection phobia and returned to work. Combined exposure and response prevention and medication adjustment, and combined cognitive therapy and medication adjustment were used to treat this patient. HIV-infection phobia was identified as one of the factors that prolonged his depression. The patient's physical symptoms were alleviated by making adjustments to his medication, and then exposure and response prevention was conducted for HIV-infection phobia. Exposure and response prevention was highly relevant and easily implemented for this patient. Although exposure and response prevention is rule-governed behavior, it was expected to have an intrinsic reinforcement value through the homework of being able to feel happy or to feel that the patient's life would become easier immediately upon achievement. Recovery from HIV-infection phobia was achieved by efficiently introducing exposure and response prevention, which was emotionally painful in a normal situation. As a result, it was possible for the patient to recover from depression that was influenced by his HIV-infection phobia.
