A Study of Depression in Depressed HIV Positive Patients At Tertiary Care Center At Lucknow

DR ROHIT KANT SRIVASTAVA; PROF .HARJEET SINGH

Volume : III, Issue : VIII, August - 2014

A Study of Depression in Depressed HIV Positive Patients At Tertiary Care Center At Lucknow

Dr Rohit Kant Srivastava, Prof . Harjeet Singh

Abstract :

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with high rates of depression. Studies have shown that depression is 2-4 times more prevalent in HIV positive patients in comparison to general population. Depression may alter the course of HIV infection by impairing immune function and influencing behaviour of person resulting in self neglect and noncompliance of treatment and care. It is mostly undiagnosed and untreated. Suicidal thoughts and ideas are also very prevalent as a part of depressive disorder, which needs to be addressed. With all this background, we designed a cross-sectional study to study depression in depressed HIV positive patients. Patients aged from 18 years to 60 years, diagnosed as HIV positive confirmed by a test as recommended by WHO and followed by NACO guidelines, registered at HIV clinic at least one month prior to assessment, suffering from depression on SCID 1 based on DSM IV were included in study sample after taking informed consent . These patients were administered HDRS scale for depression, and SCID2 for personality disorder. Our study sample consist of 28 depressed HIV positive patients, out of which 7.2% had personality disorder,78.6% had moderate to severe depression,53.6% had suicidal ideation and 7.1% had past history of depression. It all concluded that depression must be studied and properly managed in HIV patients.