Posttraumatic stress disorder in response to HIV infection.
This study investigated the psychological impact of HIV infection through assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder in response to HIV infection. Sixty-one HIV-positive homosexual/bisexual men were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder in response to HIV infection (PTSD-HIV) using a modified PTSD module of the DIS-III-R. Thirty percent met criteria for a syndrome of posttraumatic stress disorder in response to HIV diagnosis (PTSD-HIV). In over one-third of the PTSD cases, the disorder had an onset greater than 6 months after initial HIV infection diagnosis. PTSD-HIV was associated with other psychiatric diagnoses, particularly the development of first episodes of major depression after HIV infection diagnosis. PTSD-HIV was significantly associated with a pre-HIV history of PTSD from other causes, and other pre-HIV psychiatric disorders and neuroticism scores, indicating a similarity with findings in studies of PTSD from other causes. The findings from this preliminary study suggest that a PTSD response to HIV diagnosis has clinical validity and requires further investigation in this population and other medically ill groups. The results support the inclusion of the diagnosis of life-threatening illness as a traumatic incident that may lead to a posttraumatic stress disorder, which is consistent with the DSM-IV criteria.
Kelly
B
B
Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Raphael
B
B
Judd
F
F
Perdices
M
M
Kernutt
G
G
Burnett
P
P
Dunne
M
M
Burrows
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors