Depressive symptoms and AIDS-related mortality among a multisite cohort of HIV-positive women.
OBJECTIVE
We examined associations between depressive symptoms and AIDS-related mortality after controlling for antiretroviral therapy use, mental health treatment, medication adherence, substance abuse, clinical indicators, and demographic factors.


METHODS
One thousand seven hundred sixteen HIV-seropositive women completed semiannual visits from 1994 through 2001 to clinics at 6 sites. Multivariate Cox and logistic regression analyses estimated time to AIDS-related death and depressive symptom severity.


RESULTS
After we controlled for all other factors, AIDS-related deaths were more likely among women with chronic depressive symptoms, and symptoms were more severe among women in the terminal phase of their illness. Mental health service use was associated with reduced mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment for depression is a critically important component of comprehensive care for HIV-seropositive women, especially those with end-stage disease.
Cook
Judith A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60603, USA. cook@ripco.com
Grey
Dennis
D
Burke
Jane
J
Cohen
Mardge H
MH
Gurtman
Alejandra C
AC
Richardson
Jean L
JL
Wilson
Tracey E
TE
Young
Mary A
MA
Hessol
Nancy A
NA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016019:Survival Analysis
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents