Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Side Effect Impacted on Quality of Life, and Depressive Symptomatology: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is known for its side effects. In this paper, we describe ART side effects as experienced by Chinese HIV+ individuals. This study presents two stages of a research project, combining qualitative in-depth interviews (29 HIV+ participants) with quantitative statistical data analysis (N = 120). All data was collected between July 2005 to March 2008 at Beijing's Ditan Hospital. Consent was obtained from each participant for the qualitative interview and again for the quantitative survey. During in-depth interviews, Chinese HIV+ patients reported experiencing digestive discomfort, skin rashes, numbness, memory loss, nightmares, and dizziness, which not only brought them physical discomfort, but also interrupted different dimensions of their social lives. Furthermore, multiple regression analyses revealed that those who reported more severe side effects also experienced greater depressive mood after controlling for other clinical and psychosocial factors. ART side effects are one of the primary reasons causing HIV+ individuals to delay or stop taking life-saving medication; therefore, clinical interventions are critically needed to assist HIV+ individuals in managing ART side effects. ART side effects reinforced existing negative attitudes toward ART and lead to lower ART adherence. Future research should focus on developing culturally sensitive interventions to enhance HIV+ self-management, to alleviate physical and psychological burden from ART and HIV.

Factor analyses of a social support scale using two methods

“…These data were all collected at Beijing Ditan Hospital, the premier treatment center for infectious diseases in China. The first sample of 120 people living with HIV/AIDS was collected in 2006 as part of a randomized controlled trial evaluating a nurse-delivered intervention for antiretroviral medication adherence [31]. The second sample of 200 people living with HIV/AIDS was collected in 2012 as part of a study to characterize mental health symptomatology of Chinese HIV-positive individuals.…”

Depression in HIV Infected Patients: a Review

“…Many factors may be implicated in developing clinical depression in HIV-infected patients: neurobiological changes related to the persistent viral presence in the central nervous system (CNS), reaction to social stigma and sexual dysfunction, coping with the prospect of illness and death, side effects of antiretroviral therapy, and comorbidities [ [27][28][29]. On the other side, recent studies have also shown that proper diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder can improve antiretroviral therapy adherence and increase psychosocial functioning and quality of life in patients with HIV [30][31][32].…”

Evaluating drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and level of adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen amongst HIV-positive patients who referred to an AIDS healthcare center in Fars, southern Iran: the first multifaceted study from Iran

“…Hepatotoxicity in about a third of patients with HIV occurs after starting HAART. In general, ADRs of HAART significantly affect the patient's quality of life and adherence to the treatment regimen [7]. However, the effectiveness of this treatment is directly related to the patients' adherence to the treatment regimen [7].…”