Depression and HIV Infection: Impact on Immune Function and Disease Progression

Abstract

Can psychological factors, such as depression, affect human immunodeficiency virus progession? HIV infection is viewed as a chronic illness in which those infected often confront a number of emotional challenges and physical health and disease-related issues. Over the past 20 years, there has been increasing evidence that depression and other mood-related disturbances are commonly observed among HIV-positive individuals. There is also mounting data showing that depressive symptoms might further impact upon specific elements of immune system functioning and influence quality of life and health status. This paper will highlight studies examining the prevalence of depression during HIV infection and review some of the evidence examining the impact of depressive symptoms on immune function and HIV disease progression.

Cognitive behavior therapy combined with exercise for adults with chronic diseases: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

“…Indeed, comorbid psychological symptoms are highly prevalent among adults with physical chronic disease (Abrahams et al, 2016;Cruess et al, 2003;Matte et al, 2016;McCabe, 2010). Among the most prevalent comorbid psychological symptoms, four major psychological factors, namely depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain, are related with a more rapid disease progression.…”

Once Daily Dosing Improves Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy

“…Factors that been shown to affect antiretroviral adherence include age [8][9][10], HIV risk factor [11], general health status [12], living with children [13], patients' beliefs about their need for ART and their concerns about potential adverse effects of ART [14,15], frequency and severity of symptoms [8,16,17], stressful life events [18], depression [19][20][21][22][23], mistrust of the medical system [24], HIV stigma [25], and health literacy independent of education [26]. Further, adherence can vary over the course of HIV infection [27].…”

Diminished quality of life in patients with cancer correlates with tryptophan degradation

“…QoL is often impaired in patients suVering from such chronic disorders, and susceptibility for mood disturbances or depressive episodes is increased (Cruess et al 2003). Decreased availability of tryptophan could thus play an important role.…”