Psychiatric Symptoms Are All Too Common Among HIVers

A report on psychiatric symptoms and disorders affecting HIV-positive people, published in the November Supplement to the Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, shows that more than 60% of 235 patients surveyed reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. A total of 72% of the survey respondents self-reported symptoms of depression, while 65% reported anxiety. Other commonly reported symptoms included insomnia (48%), lethargy (43%), irritability (41%), impaired concentration (40%), and mood swings (40%). Pharmacotherapy is effective in treating mood disturbances, psychotic disorders, and other psychiatric complications, according to the report, but 62% of the patients surveyed said they had never been asked by their doctors about mental-health related concerns.