Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in the Gambia

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical and psychosocial correlates of psychiatric symptoms in a sample of HIV patients in the Gambia. Data from 44 HIV-positive outpatients were collected at a Genito-Urinary Medicine clinic in Fajara, the Gambia. Translated versions of the Impact of Event Scale Revised and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale were used to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and depressive symptoms, respectively. The Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure revised was used to assess illness perception (IP). All other data (e.g., CD4 counts) were retrieved from medical charts or through standardised questions. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms (43.2%) and depressive symptoms (40.9%) was high. Not having an independent income and having a CD4 count under 200 cells/µl were independent correlates of depressive symptoms. Only IP was an independent correlate of PTSD symptoms. Finally, IP tended to moderate the relationship between CD4 cell counts and depressive symptoms. These findings indicate that routine screening for psychiatric symptoms is both necessary and feasible among HIV patients in the Gambia. In addition, any intervention targeting these symptoms should take IP into account.

The association between depression and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…The findings from this study are consistent with those of similar studies with the CES-D as measurement tool. [26][27][28] In this study, 62% of participants scored high on the CES-D. The large percentage of participants with significant depressive symptoms suggests that there is a very high prevalence of major depression in this HIVpositive population.…”

Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders in People Living With HIV/AIDS in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…32 For example, some studies report more than twice the prevalence of depression in PLWH compared with matched non-HIVinfected persons, [33][34][35][36] and some report a depression prevalence in PLWH of more than 30%. [41][42][43][44] More than 80% of Zambians recently commenced on ART were found to have anxiety and depression symptoms severe enough to warrant additional intervention or support, and a higher burden of this psychiatric morbidity was associated with early mortality. These discrepancies may be due to methodological issues such as sampling and difference in HIV clinical stages.…”

Mental Health: A Focus on Stress, Coping, and Mental Illness as it Relates to Treatment Retention, Adherence, and Other Health Outcomes

“…In their sample of 44 HIV-infected patients from Gambia, Klis et al [35] failed to find a significant relationship between PTSD symptoms and CD4 count. It should be noted that the Klis et al study consisted of a relatively small sample, which may have had limited power to detect medium or small effects.…”