The aggressive tendencies in HIV-positive persons with concomitant mental disorders

Abstract

Hostility and aggressiveness can be a marker of individual psychological vulnerability to stressors leading to reduced social adjustment and the risk of mental disorder manifestation. The aggressive tendencies prevalence is believed to be high among people living with HIV. With an increase in the incidence of HIV infection, the number of HIV-positive patients with concomitant mental disorders is increasing.Aim: to evaluate the intensity and the structure of aggressive tendencies in HIV-infected persons with concomitant mental disorders. Material and Methods. 78 HIV-positive persons and 24 HIV-negative psychiatric patients. The Bass-Darkie Aggressive Level Questionnaire (BDHI) and Short Psychiatric Assessment Scale (BPRS) were used. Nonparametric statistics, dispersion analysis was performed with p≤0.05, Cohen’s d calculated (effect size).Results. We examined 102 people, 51 (50.0%) men, 51 (50.0%) women, the average age — 35.5 ± 9.7 years. 58 (74.4%) HIV-infected respondents had mental disorders. HIV-positive persons with schizophrenia had higher values of most aggressive tendencies (p<0.05) in the group of HIV-infected subjects. In comparison with HIV-negative patients, HIV-positive persons with schizophrenia had higher mean values of «Physical aggression» (p<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.0), «Verbal aggression» (p <0.001, Cohen’s d = 1, 0), and «Aggressiveness» (p=0.004, Cohen’s d=0.86). 4B clinical stage of HIV infection was associated with higher scores of «Physical aggression», «Indirect aggression», «Verbal aggression», «Negativism», «Aggressiveness» (p<0,05).Conclusion. The study findings contribute to the understanding of the features of aggressive tendencies in HIV-positive persons and call for further research to improving the quality and personalization of medical care for patients with concomitant mental disorders.