Anxiety Syndromes and Symptoms Among Men With AIDS: A Longitudinal Controlled Study

• Published in: Psychosomatics (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 294 - 300
• Main Authors: Sewell, Margaret C., Goggin, Kathy J., Rabkin, Judith G., Ferrando, Stephen J., McElhiney, Martin C., Evans, Susan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Elsevier Inc 01.07.2000; American Psychiatric Press; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - psychology; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; AIDS/HIV; Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Prospective Studies; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; United States; North America; America; Social environment; Homosexuality; Prevalence; Mental health; Anxiety disorder; Biological marker; Somatic complaint; Male; Asymptomatic; Functional capacity; Evolution; Coping; Public health; Human; Immunopathology; Fatigue; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Stress; Infection; Symptomatology; Concomitant disease; Follow up study; Viral disease; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0033-3182; 1545-7206
• DOI: 10.1176/appi.psy.41.4.294

This 2-year longitudinal study assessed prevalence of Axis I anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms and their relationship to manifestations of HIV illness in a sample of nonintravenous drug users. The sample included 173 homosexual men with HIV or AIDS (HIV +/AIDS) and 84 homosexual men negative for HIV or AIDS (HIV −). Data were compared with national prevalence rates to provide a framework for interpretation. No significant differences were observed. However, compared with the general population, both HIV +/AIDS and HIV − men reported more anxiety symptoms and stress. For the HIV +/AIDS group there was a positive relationship between anxiety and HIV symptoms, fatigue, and physical limitations. No changes in rates or levels of anxiety were observed in those whose immunologic markers improved or worsened over the 2 years.