Abstract
BackgroundCognitive impairment is an established phenomenon in HIV infected individuals and patients that have psychosis. However there is need to establish the severity of the impairment if patients are co morbid with both conditions.AimTo compare cognitive function among HIV positive individuals and HIV negative individuals with psychosis.MethodsWe recruited patients with psychosis at two national referral hospitals. A standardized demographics questionnaire and psychiatric, physical, and laboratory assessments were conducted. Types of psychosis were diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory-PLUS while cognitive functioning was determined using the Mini mental state examination (MMSE) and a neuropsychological test battery. Follow-up assessments on cognitive function and severity of psychiatric illness were performed at 3 and 6 months. Pairwise comparison and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to determine the differences between the HIV positive and HIV negative individuals.ResultsThere were 156 HIV positive and 322 HIV negative participants. The mean age was 33 years for the HIV positive group and 29 years for the HIV negative group (p<0.001). The HIV positive individuals were almost three times (OR = 2.62 CI 95% 1.69–4.06) more likely to be cognitively impaired on the MMSE as well as the following cognitive tests:- WHO-UCLA Auditory Verbal Learning Test (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.09–2.92), Verbal Fluency (OR 3.42, 95% CI 2.24–5.24), Color Trails 1 (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.29–3.02) and Color Trails 2 (OR 3.50 95% 2.00–6.10) all p = 0.01. There was improvement in cognitive function at follow up; however the impairment remained higher for the HIV positive group (p<0.001).ConclusionCognitive impairment in psychosis was worsened by HIV infection. Care plans to minimize the effect of this impairment should be structured for the management of individuals with HIV and psychosis.
Highlights
Cognitive dysfunction in patients having primary psychiatric illness like schizophrenia has been well documented [1,2]
Cognitive impairment in psychosis was worsened by HIV infection
7(4%) of the HIV positive individuals were at WHO clinical stage 4 i.e. AIDS
Summary
Cognitive dysfunction in patients having primary psychiatric illness like schizophrenia has been well documented [1,2]. The cognitive functioning of an individual with psychosis is affected by a number of factors including the severity of psychosis and anti psychotic medication being taken [3]. The prevalence of HIV dementia among HIV positive individuals has decreased from 30–40% before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy to 10–15% in settings with adequate access to the medication [8,9,10]. While the severity of impairment may decrease with antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prevalence of any degree of cognitive impairment even after the use this medication remains as high as 40–70-% [12,13]. Cognitive impairment is an established phenomenon in HIV infected individuals and patients that have psychosis. There is need to establish the severity of the impairment if patients are co morbid with both conditions
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