Prevalence, impact, and management of depression and anxiety in patients with HIV: a review

Suprakash Chaudhury,1 Ajay Kumar Bakhla,2 Rajiv Saini,3 1Department of Psychiatry, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University), Loni, Maharashtra, 2Department of Psychiatry, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 3Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Maharashtra, India Abstract: The prevalence of depression and anxiety in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) ranges from 7.2% to 71.9% and 4.5% to 82.3%, respectively. This wide variation is attributed to differences in sample size and characteristics, and methodology for assessment of anxiety and depression. Moreover, anxiety and depression increase the morbidity of HIV by poor adherence to treatment and various other significant mechanisms. Early identification and effective management of these disorders is associated with improved antiretroviral adherence and improved quality of life in PLWHA. Different treatment modalities, including pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies, are used for the management of anxiety and depression in PLWHA. Benzodiazepines are indicated for short periods of time. Clonazepam and lorazepam are safe in terms of drug–drug interactions and may be preferred. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are safer than tricyclic antidepressants. Though the different selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are supposed to be equally effective, to avoid interactions with antiretrovirals, the better options are sertraline, citalopr...
Source: Neurobehavioral HIV Medicine - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Neurobehavioral HIV Medicine Source Type: research