Depressive disorder in HIV patients

Abstract

The article studies the relationship of the severity and frequency of depressive syndrome in HIV patients with the HIV severity and clinical stage. The study included 108 HIV patients aged 21 to 70 years with a major depressive episode and secondary depression due to somatic diseases and opportunistic infections. Patients in stage 4B (48 patients) prevailed. Stage 3 was diagnosed in 6 patients, stage 4A — in 23 patients, and stage 4C — in 31 patients. As a result of the study, a high score on the Hamilton Scale was observed in the group of patients with HIV dementia (23.4 points) and in patients with drug addiction (22.6 points), which, in addition to somatic phenomena, was also manifested by labile mood, suicidal thoughts, behavioral disinhibition, and increased impulsivity. The level of depression according to the Beck's Depression Inventory was high in drug addicts (56.72 points), in dementia patients (61.83), and in patients immediately after diagnosis (52.71 points).