Symptoms of depression and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS

Renata Karina Reis,Claudia Benedita Dos Santos,Marli Teresinha Gimenez Galvão,Elucir Gir,Vanderley José Haas,Sheila Araujo Teles

doi:10.1590/s0104-11692011000400004

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 228 people living with HIV/AIDS in a municipality in the State of São Paulo during 2007 and 2008. The aims of this study were to investigate the intensity of the depressive symptoms in individuals with HIV/AIDS treated at two referral units in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, and to compare the quality of life with the different degrees of intensity of the depressive symptoms in these individuals, according to gender. Data were collected through individual interviews, using the Beck Depression Inventory and HIV/AIDS Targeted Quality of Life (HATQoL). A total of 63 (27.6%) patients with symptoms of depression (mild, moderate and severe) were detected. The women presented more severe symptoms of intensity of depression than men. Individuals with depressive symptoms presented lower scores of quality of life than individuals without these symptoms, with statistically significant differences between the means/medians in most domains of the HATQoL. Healthcare professionals should offer integral care for people with HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the depressive symptoms.

Highlights

Quality of life (QoL) has become one of the major goals in studies regarding infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), because, due to advances in the treatment with the use of antiretrovirals, there has been a decrease of opportunistic infections, and an increase in the rates of survival[1]
Considering that AIDS is a chronic disease and that its sufferers have a high risk of developing depressive symptoms, which has been associated with a decrease in the quality of life, the aims of this study were to investigate the intensity of the depressive symptoms in individuals with HIV/AIDS treated at two referral units in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, and to compare the quality of life with the different degrees of intensity of depressive symptoms in these individuals, according to gender
The results of this study indicate a prevalence of depressive symptoms of 27.6% according to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

Summary

Introduction

Quality of life (QoL) has become one of the major goals in studies regarding infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), because, due to advances in the treatment with the use of antiretrovirals, there has been a decrease of opportunistic infections, and an increase in the rates of survival[1]. Given the change in the course of HIV infection to a chronic disease, improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS became one of the major goals of clinical practice and research in the area[2]. AIDS indicate that this is affected by many individual, cultural, social and emotional factors, related to the impact of the diagnosis and the treatment and quotidian living with a chronic disease[3]. Different variables, such as gender, living and health conditions, have been studied for their relationship with QoL, some authors have shown that depression significantly affects all the QoL dimensions evaluated[4,5].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion