Antidepressant therapy can improve adherence to antiretroviral regimens among HIV-infected and depressed patients.
Several strategies have been introduced to manage nonadherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Treatment with antidepressants may improve self-reported adherence. In this brief report, a small sample of HIV-depressed patients (n = 9) were treated for a 6-month period with antidepressants improving self-reported adherence based on the HAART scale (poor, good, satisfactory, and optimal). Before the antidepressant treatment, adherence was reported as "good" by 3 patients and "satisfactory" by 6 patients. After antidepressant therapy, adherence to antiretroviral regimes was statistically higher in HIV-depressed on treatment than in HIV-depressed patients not treated with antidepressants (P < 0.0001). We used chi2 test with a significance level at P < 0.05. Treating depression in HIV-infected patients may serve to improve adherence to HAART.
Dalessandro
Margherita
M
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
Conti
Chiara M
CM
Gambi
Francesco
F
Falasca
Katia
K
Doyle
Robert
R
Conti
Pio
P
Caciagli
Francesco
F
Fulcheri
Mario
M
Vecchiet
Jacopo
J
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D000928:Antidepressive Agents