Clinical Personality Patterns in Young Adults with HIV Nosocomial Infection from the Region of Southeast Romania

Abstract

The study aim was to determine the characteristics and pervasive features of personality for the patients with nosocomial HIV infection and its influence on the adherence to antiretroviral therapy.The retrospective study was conducted on 123 patients with nosocomial HIV infection; for determining the characteristic and pervasive features of personality it was used MCMI-III test. The adherence to therapy was determined by using a questionnaire developed by the Department for monitoring HIV / AIDS infection of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. The obtained results were compared with the data for the general population, published by DSM IV.28.5% of patients had disorders of personality traits, being significantly affected males rather than females (p = 0.0388). The most common personality disorder trait was the addiction. The compulsive type disorders (9.75%), avoidant, and histrionic (7.3% each) and narcissistic (4.9%) exceeded the prevalence recorded for the general population. Patients with disorders of personality traits had significantly reduced adherence to antiretroviral therapy (p = 0.0045).The patients with HIV nosocomial infection had those disorders of personality traits associated with the stigma and social rejection: dependence, avoidance, compulsiveness, and they influenced the attitudes towards therapy expressed by low adherence.