Abstract
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Highlights
Women are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic and carry a higher burden of early childhood trauma, other life traumas and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[1,2] Yet PTSD and other common psychiatric disorders are commonly under-detected in HIV care settings
The prevalence of PTSD in HIVinfected individuals varies across studies, ranging from 30% to 64%4-6 depending on the various methods of assessment, sample characteristics and diagnostic criteria used
The association between HIV infection and trauma exposure may be causal or may reflect of the concentration of HIV infection in socio-economically deprived populations who are at high risk of trauma exposures.[12]
Summary
There are essentially three core aspects to consider in the assessment for PTSD in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): (i) identification of patients who are predisposed to the disorder (i.e. at risk); (ii) careful assessment of all traumatic events that a patient has experienced; and (iii) understanding of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HIV MEDICINE monly complain of vague somatic symptoms that may be the somatic expression of their disorder, be exacerbated by their PTSD, or be unrelated.[16] Patients with PTSD suffer from psychiatric co-morbidities such as depression, other anxiety disorders and substance abuse. Many patients use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to self-medicate their PTSD symptoms. Patients with PTSD are at an increased risk of gastro-intestinal, cardiac, respiratory and neurological problems.[17]
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