title: Psychiatric and social barriers to HIV medication adherence in a triply diagnosed methadone population.
abstract: Although antiretrovirals can prolong life, medication adherence also poses a constant challenge for HIV-infected individuals because the success of antiretroviral regimens demands nearly perfect adherence to medications. This paper describes the psychiatric and social barriers to adherence in a convenience sample of HIV-positive clients in methadone treatment in the Bronx, New York. The study sample was part of a national study of HIV treatment adherence and health care utilization among triply diagnosed populations, the HIV/AIDS Treatment Adherence Health Outcomes and Cost Study. The triply diagnosed study sample is defined here as HIV-infected individuals who screened into the study with at least one psychiatric diagnosis in addition to opioid dependence on agonist therapy (methadone treatment) and at least one substance use diagnosis. Interviewers utilized modified versions of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-I), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II), and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-Lite), among a battery of Cost Study instruments. Results showed that within this sample, borderline personality disorder was significantly associated with nonadherence to HIV medications. A related finding showed a significant relationship between serious social/family problems and nonadherence. These findings build on previous research on the impact of psychiatric illness on HIV medication adherence and suggest that psychiatric assessment and treatment options be linked to adherence interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 98101-1313, USA. npalmer@jba-cht.com
authors.forename: Nancy B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: Alec L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winiarski
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008691:Methadone; D009519:New York City; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019037:Urban Health Services
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D008691:Methadone