Depressive and Anxiety Disorders in Women With HIV Infection

Bibliographic Data

ID23364715
AuthorsMary F Morrison (0000-0002-9114-2295, University of Pennsylvania), John M Petitto, Thomas Ten Have, David R Gettes, Margaret S Chiappini, Anita L Weber, Priscilla Brinker-Spence, Russell M Bauer (0000-0001-7107-6027), Steven D Douglas (0000-0002-3748-3603), Dwight L Evans
Year2002
Volume159
Issue5
Pages789-796
Publication date2002-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-953X • E-ISSN: 1535-7228
PublisherAmerican Psychiatric Association Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1176/appi.ajp.159.5.789
PMID11986133
OpenAlexW2145702885
LanguageEN
Citations received86
References cited53

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether there were differences in the rate of depressive and anxiety disorders between HIV-infected women (N=93) and a comparison group of uninfected women (N=62). Secondary objectives were to examine correlates of depression in HIV-infected women-including HIV disease stage and protease inhibitor use-and the associations between symptoms of depression or anxiety and other potential predictor variables. METHOD: Subjects underwent extensive semiannual clinical, psychiatric, neuropsychological, and immunological evaluations. Depressive and anxiety disorder diagnoses were assessed by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (the 17-item version and a modified 11-item version) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, respectively. RESULTS: The rate of current major depressive disorder was four times higher in HIV-seropositive women (19.4%) than in HIV-seronegative women (4.8%). Mean depressive symptom scores on the 17-item Hamilton depression scale also were significantly higher, overall, in the HIV-infected women (mean=8.7, SD=8.0) relative to comparison subjects (mean=3.3, SD=5.8). There was no significant between-group difference in the rate of anxiety disorders. However, HIV-seropositive women had significantly higher anxiety symptom scores (mean=8.8, SD=8.9) than did HIV-seronegative women (mean=3.6, SD=5.5). Both groups had similar substance abuse/dependence histories, but adjusting for this factor had little impact on the relationship of HIV status to current major depressive disorder. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-seropositive women without current substance abuse exhibited a significantly higher rate of major depressive disorder and more symptoms of depression and anxiety than did a group of HIV-seronegative women with similar demographic characteristics. These controlled, clinical findings extend recent epidemiologic findings and underscore the importance of adequate assessment and treatment of depression and anxiety in HIV-infected women.

Anxiety · Anxiety disorder · Depression (economics) · Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale · Major depressive disorder · Mood · Psychiatry · Substance abuse · Clinical Psychology · HIV Research and Treatment · HIV-related health complications and treatments · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Psychology