Fatigue in psychiatric HIV patients: a pilot study of psychological correlates.
BACKGROUND
Even though viral management of HIV infection is now more effective, clinical observations suggest that fatigue remains a problem for a substantial proportion of patients.


OBJECTIVE
The authors delineated prevalence and severity of fatigue in HIV patients with psychiatric comorbidities and examined psychological correlates of fatigue.


METHODS
The authors comprehensively assessed fatigue in 38 consecutive HIV patients referred for psychiatric treatment with the Identity-Consequence Fatigue Scale.


RESULTS
About 80% of patients reported at least moderate feelings of fatigue, and about 25% judged that fatigue was severely affecting their daily functioning. Depression, anxiety, and perceived stress explained between 20% and 75% of the variance in fatigue ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that fatigue in the era of effective antiretroviral treatment is prevalent, relevant, and related to psychological morbidities. Recognition and treatment of these comorbidities may be important in reducing this fatigue.
Division of Psychiatry and Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Johanna
J
Paddison
Gregory
G
Fricchione
Rajesh T
RT
Gandhi
Oliver
O
Freudenreich
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires