Mental Health Status of Patients With HIV/AIDS in the South of Iran

Abstract

Background: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal disease that is caused by Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). Information about the mental health status of patients with HIV/AIDS and its correlates is critical and provide proper palliative care and other supportive services. Objectives: Considering the high prevalence of mental and psychological disorders among people living with HIV/AIDS, the present study aimed to investigate the mental health status of people with HIV/AIDS in the south of Iran. Patients and Methods: This descriptive-cross sectional study was conducted on 95 HIV-positive patients referred to Bandar Abbas Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center in 2012. Data were collected using a General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). The HIV/AIDS subjects with total scores of ≤ 23 were classified as nonpsychiatric. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 by applying descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. Results: Results of this study showed that 85.3% of the participants scored above the screening threshold for mental health disorders. There was no significant relationship between mental health disorders and age, gender, marital status, employment status, level of education, drug abuse history, area of living and clinical stages of HIV/AIDS cases. Moreover, 95.1% of participants had anxiety symptoms, 85.2% had depression, 87.7% had social dysfunction, and 80.2% had somatic symptoms. Conclusions: The prevalence of mental disorders among the HIV-positive patients in Bandar Abbas City, Iran, was high. The findings of this study demonstrate the need for more attention to improve mental health status of individuals with HIV/AIDS and further research on the mental health status of HIV-positive patients.