Objective: To investigate the levels of depression, anxiety, psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to assess the risk factors.
Methods: A total of 121 people living with HIV (PLWHIV) were included, and 61 health individuals were selected as healthy controls. Their sociodemographic information was collected. The Self-Rating Depression Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Symptom Checklist 90 and Short-Form Health Survey-36 were used.
Results: The depression score was higher in PLWHIV (47.83 ± 10.58 vs 36.52 ± 9.69 P< 0.001). Similar results were observed in anxiety score (41.06 ± 11.24 vs 32.31 ± 7.99, P< 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that younger age (OR=0.929, P=0.004) and smoking (OR=4.297, P=0.001) were identified as independent factors of depression while young age (OR=0.890, P=0.008) and alcohol consumption (OR=4.801, P=0.002) were independent factors of anxiety. Results of SCL-90 questionnaire showed that hostility, paranoia ideation were significantly more pronounced when PLWHIV had depression. Results of HRQOL showed that physical functioning (82.88 ± 14.73 vs 93.41 ± 9.22, P< 0.001) and mental health (57.46 ± 17.64 vs 65.68 ± 17.44, P=0.012) were lower in PLWHIV with depression. For PLWHIV with anxiety, vitality (56.96 ± 14.61 vs 67.58 ± 17.57, P=0.004), social functioning (64.52 ± 23.97 vs 74.64 ± 21.47, P=0.036) and mental health (52.57 ± 14.21 vs 65.03 ± 17.98, P=0.001) were lower. High depression level was showed the independent risk factor associated with poor HRQOL (OR=0.370, P=0.001).
Conclusion: Depression and anxiety were very common in PLWHIV. Physicians should not only focus on the antiviral treatment of these patients but also monitor their mental status, especially that of younger patients. For PLWHIV with depression and anxiety, psychological intervention should be provided, and social role rebuilding may be good for depression and anxiety alleviation.
Keywords: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, human immunodeficiency virus, anxiety, mental disorder, depression