Persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection are at high risk for depression and poor linkage to care: results from the Steps Study.
Little is known about the prevalence and impact of depression in persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection. The Steps Study is a prospective, observational cohort study of persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection. Participants were administered a battery of instruments, including the CES-D. Linkage to care was defined as attending at least one clinic appointment in each of the first two 90-day intervals following diagnosis. Of 180 participants, 67% screened positive for depression. In multivariate analysis, depression was associated with female sex, income <$25,000, recent substance abuse, baseline poor access to medical care, and low self-efficacy. Fifty-six and sixty-eight percent of depressed and not depressed participants linked to care, respectively. In multivariate analysis, depression was a borderline significant predictor of poor linkage. Depression is very prevalent in persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection. Interventions targeting linkage to care should address depression, substance abuse, and barriers to care.
Bhatia
Ramona
R
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Hartman
Christine
C
Kallen
Michael A
MA
Graham
James
J
Giordano
Thomas P
TP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult