In addition to the research that has demonstrated the propitious effects of social support, a small body of evidence has shown an apparent harmful health impact of seeking help from others to deal with illness (e.g. [16]). Thus, as well as identifying the types of support perceived by receivers as helpful, it is also important to identify those behaviors which are offered by caregivers as support, but are perceived by the receiver as unhelpful. Some well-intention efforts by others to provide support may be regarded as unhelpful (e.g. [17]). Thus, this study was designed to identify helpful and unhelpful supportive behaviors provided to HIV-infected persons and the sources of such support.