Psychosocial Correlates and Coping Strategies Associated With Long-Term Survival of HIV-Infected Children

All children who have been infected, either vertically or through transfusion, for at least 8 years as of January 1, 1995 and who are enrolled in one of the HIV clinical protocols on the Pediatric Branch of the National Cancer Institute will be invited to participate in the study. The primary caregivers of the child will be asked to provide additional information about the family and themselves.

Children who are unaware of their diagnosis will be excluded from the study as it would not be possible to ascertain their own perceptions as to how they have been coping with their disease. Children who are unable to understand and complete the measures being used due to cognitive deficits will not be administered those measures. This excludes all children whose current cognitive abilities fall 2 standard deviations or more below the normal range of cognitive functioning according to the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ). If a child's cognitive abilities fall below this criterion after the first data collections point (for example, if they become encephalopathic), we will not collect data from the child but we will continue to collect data from the caretaker. Care providers and children who cannot understand English will also be excluded from the study.

History of severe allergic reactions to study medication Currently pregnant or breastfeeding Recent participation in another clinical trial within the last 30 days Presence of uncontrolled medical conditions that could affect safety