SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN BRAZILIAN GAY MEN LIVING WITH HIV: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of signs and symptoms of depression in a sample of gay men living with HIV and to investigate potential associations between depression and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Method: This cross-sectional study utilized a non-probabilistic sample, recruited through the Snowball Sampling method. The study included 138 gay men living with HIV. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory II. Results: Signs and symptoms of depression were identified in 48.47% of the participants, with 23.92% experiencing mild depression, 20.22% moderate depression, and 4.34% severe depression. The mean depression score was 10.99 (SD=8.95, 95% CI: 9.59–12.57). The most frequent symptoms included: some level of sadness (60.14%), reduced interest in daily activities (57.97%), concerns about physical problems (55.79%), reduced interest in sex (52.17%), and feeling tired (51.44%). After being diagnosed with HIV, 47.82% of the participants reported a worsening in their mental health, while 21.01% reported a decline in their physical health. There were statistically significant negative correlations between depression scores and both income and education level. Current age, age at HIV diagnosis, housing situation, socioeconomic status, employment status, and clinical variables did not correlate with depression scores. Conclusion: The high prevalence of depressive symptoms highlights the need for mental health professionals to be involved in the early diagnosis and timely treatment of depression, which can lead to better prognoses.