Assessment of anxiety and depression in HIV-positive patients

Abstract

Context: Given the psychological disorders caused by HIV and antiretroviral treatment, knowledge of these disorders such as depression and anxiety remains a key element for therapeutic success. Aims: To evaluate anxiety and depression in HIV-positive patients as well as to detach certain correlations between the level of anxio-depression and parameters such as gender, socioeconomic and socio-cultural status, viral load. It is also to validate the Arabic versions of these inventories and scales within the HIV-positive population. Methods: The prospective observational study was extended over a 6-month period and included 220 HIV-positive patients. The scales and inventories used to assess anxio-depression were: The Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Spielberger's inventory. Psychological stratification as an original method that has been created to classify patients according to their psychological status and biological parameters of HIV (viral load and CD4 count) was performed. Results: The gender ratio was 52.78, where 144 (65.46%) were women, the average age was 41.60 ± 11.05 years, 125 patients were single. Anxiety and depression were prevalent in this sample. More than 90% of the patients presented depressing symptomatology and more than 85% anxious symptomatology according to the different scales and inventories. Anxio-depression was related to viral load and CD4 count according to different assessment tools. Conclusions: This study has shown a high prevalence of anxio-depression, this is a warning signal to avoid any complications or suicidal risk. We have been able to validate the Arabic versions of the inventories and assessment items for anxiety and depression in a sample of Moroccan patients.