Co-occuring psychiatric symptoms in children perinatally infected with HIV and peer comparison sample.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the rates of psychopathology in youths perinatally infected with HIV (N = 319) with a comparison sample of peers (N = 256) either HIV-exposed or living in households with HIV-infected family members.


METHODS
Participants were randomly recruited from 29 sites in the United States and Puerto Rico and completed an extensive battery of measures including standardized DSM-IV-referenced ratings scales.


RESULTS
The HIV+ group was relatively healthy (73% with CD4% >25%), and 92% were actively receiving antiretroviral therapy. Youths with HIV (17%) met symptom and impairment criteria for the following disorders: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (12%), oppositional defiant disorder (5%), conduct disorder (1%), generalized anxiety disorder (2%), separation anxiety disorder (1%), depressive disorder (2%), or manic episode (1%). Many youths with HIV (27%) and peers (26%) were rated (either self- or caregiver report) as having psychiatric problems that interfered with academic or social functioning. With the exception of somatization disorder, the HIV+ group did not evidence higher rates or severity of psychopathology than peers, although rates for both groups were higher than the general population. Nevertheless, self-awareness of HIV infection in younger children was associated with more severe symptomatology, and youths with HIV had higher lifetime rates of special education (44 vs 32%), psychopharmacological (23 vs 12%), or behavioral (27 vs 17%) interventions. Youth-caregiver agreement was modest, and youths reported more impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection was not associated with differentially greater levels of current psychopathology; nevertheless, investigation of relations with developmental changes and specific illness parameters and treatments are ongoing.
Gadow
Kenneth D
KD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8790, USA. kenneth.gadow@stonybrook.edu
Chernoff
Miriam
M
Williams
Paige L
PL
Brouwers
Pim
P
Morse
Edward
E
Heston
Jerry
J
Hodge
Janice
J
Di Poalo
Vinnie
V
Deygoo
Nagamah S
NS
Nachman
Sharon
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D004519:Education, Special; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010379:Peer Group; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012649:Self Concept; D014481:United States
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents