Mental disorders in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

• Published in: Anales de medicina interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984) Vol. 18; no. 11; pp. 597 - 604
• Main Authors: Gallego Deike, L, Gordillo Alvarez-Valdés, M V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.11.2001
• Subjects: HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - psychology; Humans; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - etiology; Mental Disorders - therapy; Prevalence
• ISSN: 0212-7199

The present review aims to offer a concise of information about the diverse mental disorders affecting HIV-infected patients. Although most studies coincide in remarking that HIV-infected patients are frequently burden with psychological distress, the prevalence of the different mental disorders being present at the time of evaluation is widely variable. HIV infection clinical stage, prior psychiatric morbidity, and sociodemographic issues are also related to the type and risk for mental disorders. When planning therapeutic interventions, psychopharmacological or psychological, for HIV-infected patients several peculiarities should be taken into account. The accurate psychosocial evaluation and prompt therapeutic intervention, could help to reduce psychiatric-psychologic morbidity in a population of patients with multifactorial impairment in their quality of life and improve the adherence to treatment.