Depression and neuropsychological performance in asymptomatic HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the effect of depression on neuropsychological performance in HIV-infected men. Previous studies have suggested that depression may account for the neuropsychological abnormalities observed in some patients with HIV infection, but few studies have specifically examined this question.


METHODS
An extensive neuropsychological test battery was administered to 121 HIV-seropositive asymptomatic men and 42 HIV-seronegative comparison subjects. The seropositive subjects were grouped into depressed and non-depressed groups on the basis of scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R.


RESULTS
Statistical comparisons revealed very few measures on which the depressed seropositive subjects scored significantly worse than either of the nondepressed comparison groups. The nondepressed seropositive group differed consistently from the seronegative comparison subjects on measures of verbal memory and dexterity.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that the subtle neuropsychological abnormalities observed in some asymptomatic HIV-seropositive subjects cannot be attributed to depression. These data also indicate the advantages of a multifaceted approach to assessment of depression.
Department of Psychiatry, Ohio State University College of Medicine.
R A
RA
Bornstein
P
P
Pace
P
P
Rosenberger
H A
HA
Nasrallah
M F
MF
Para
C C
CC
Whitacre
R J
RJ
Fass
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004522:Educational Status; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014145:Trail Making Test