title: Antidepressant therapy can improve adherence to antiretroviral regimens among HIV-infected and depressed patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalessandro
authors.forename: Chiara M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gambi
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falasca
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caciagli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fulcheri
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vecchiet
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents