Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Genitourinary Medicine logoLink to Genitourinary Medicine
. 1997 Aug;73(4):263–266. doi: 10.1136/sti.73.4.263

Are reported stress and coping style associated with frequent recurrence of genital herpes?

L Cassidy 1, J Meadows 1, J Catalán 1, S Barton 1
PMCID: PMC1195854  PMID: 9389946

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This paper reports on the cross sectional data from the longitudinal study examining the impact of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection on quality of life. In particular the report sought to study the relation between recurrence of genital HSV and coping style, mood, personality, and quality of life, among other factors. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: 116 patients with a known history of genital herpes simplex infection attending the Department of Genitourinary Medicine at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. METHODS: Psychosocial factors (stress, anxiety, depression, health locus of control, personality, social support, coping skills, and quality of life) and the reported frequency of genital herpes episodes were measured using self administered questionnaires designed to examine the relation between psychosocial status and the frequency of genital HSV episodes. RESULTS: The number of recurrences reported by patients was significantly related to the style of coping skills used. Higher recurrences were less likely to use problem focused coping skills of planning and active coping, and the emotion focused coping skills of positive reinterpretation and growth. There was a significant difference in the number of patients who believed that psychological stress was related to the number of recurrences they experienced. This belief was related to neuroticism on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire scale, and not to any of the other measures investigated. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that it is the way individuals cope, and their personality characteristics rather than actual levels of psychological stress, that influence their belief in a link between recurrent genital HSV and stress. HSV may become the focus of existing concerns and be viewed as the physical manifestation of stress.

Full text

PDF
263

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bierman S. M. Recurrent genital herpes simplex infection. A trivial disorder. Arch Dermatol. 1985 Apr;121(4):513–517. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Carney O., Ross E., Bunker C., Ikkos G., Mindel A. A prospective study of the psychological impact on patients with a first episode of genital herpes. Genitourin Med. 1994 Feb;70(1):40–45. doi: 10.1136/sti.70.1.40. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Carney O., Ross E., Ikkos G., Mindel A. The effect of suppressive oral acyclovir on the psychological morbidity associated with recurrent genital herpes. Genitourin Med. 1993 Dec;69(6):457–459. doi: 10.1136/sti.69.6.457. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Carver C. S., Scheier M. F., Weintraub J. K. Assessing coping strategies: a theoretically based approach. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989 Feb;56(2):267–283. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.56.2.267. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Corey L., Adams H. G., Brown Z. A., Holmes K. K. Genital herpes simplex virus infections: clinical manifestations, course, and complications. Ann Intern Med. 1983 Jun;98(6):958–972. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-98-6-958. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Folkman S., Lazarus R. S. An analysis of coping in a middle-aged community sample. J Health Soc Behav. 1980 Sep;21(3):219–239. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Goldmeier D., Johnson A., Byrne M., Barton S. Psychosocial implications of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infection. Genitourin Med. 1988 Oct;64(5):327–330. doi: 10.1136/sti.64.5.327. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hoon E. F., Hoon P. W., Rand K. H., Johnson J., Hall N. R., Edwards N. B. A psycho-behavioral model of genital herpes recurrence. J Psychosom Res. 1991;35(1):25–36. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(91)90004-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lacroix J. M., Offutt C. Type A and genital herpes. J Psychosom Res. 1988;32(2):207–212. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(88)90056-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Longo D. J., Clum G. A. Psychosocial factors affecting genital herpes recurrences: linear vs mediating models. J Psychosom Res. 1989;33(2):161–166. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(89)90043-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Manne S., Sandler I. Coping and adjustment to genital herpes. J Behav Med. 1984 Dec;7(4):391–410. doi: 10.1007/BF00845272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. McLarnon L. D., Kaloupek D. G. Psychological investigation of genital herpes recurrence: prospective assessment and cognitive-behavioral intervention for a chronic physical disorder. Health Psychol. 1988;7(3):231–249. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.7.3.231. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Rand K. H., Hoon E. F., Massey J. K., Johnson J. H. Daily stress and recurrence of genital herpes simplex. Arch Intern Med. 1990 Sep;150(9):1889–1893. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Sarason I. G., Johnson J. H., Siegel J. M. Assessing the impact of life changes: development of the Life Experiences Survey. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1978 Oct;46(5):932–946. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.46.5.932. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Silver P. S., Auerbach S. M., Vishniavsky N., Kaplowitz L. G. Psychological factors in recurrent genital herpes infection: stress, coping style, social support, emotional dysfunction, and symptom recurrence. J Psychosom Res. 1986;30(2):163–171. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(86)90046-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Stout C. W., Bloom L. J. Genital herpes and personality. J Human Stress. 1986 Fall;12(3):119–124. doi: 10.1080/0097840X.1986.9936776. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. VanderPlate C., Aral S. O., Magder L. The relationship among genital herpes simplex virus, stress, and social support. Health Psychol. 1988;7(2):159–168. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.7.2.159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. VanderPlate C., Kerrick G. Stress reduction treatment of severe recurrent genital herpes virus. Biofeedback Self Regul. 1985 Jun;10(2):181–188. doi: 10.1007/BF01000753. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Zigmond A. S., Snaith R. P. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983 Jun;67(6):361–370. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Genitourinary Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES