title: Levels of self-reported depression and anxiety among HIV-positive patients in Albania: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain an initial perspective of mental health issues facing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive population at the University Hospital Center of Tirana (UHCT) HIV/AIDS Ambulatory Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June-August 2009, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 79 patients (93% response rate) at the UHCT HIV/AIDS Ambulatory Clinic. The interviews assessed patient-reported histories of mental health diagnoses, patients' demographics, and current emotional health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of patients who reported a history of diagnosis of depression or anxiety was high - 62.3% and 82.3%, respectively. Factors associated with a history of depression included having been diagnosed with anxiety (P<0.001), having a higher number of barriers to care (P<0.001), having a higher number of current medical and social needs (P<0.001), or having not obtained antiretroviral therapy (ART) abroad (P=0.004). Factors associated with a history of anxiety included having been on first-line ART (P=0.008), having been diagnosed with HIV for shorter periods of time (P=0.043), having been diagnosed with depression (P<0.001), having a higher number of current medical and social needs (P=0.035), or having not obtained ART abroad (P=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mental health problems are widespread among the known HIV-positive patient population in Albania. The high prevalences of anxiety and depression and of dual diagnoses of these conditions suggest the need for more mental health care for HIV-positive patients in Albania.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-0495, USA. shanem@stanford.edu
authors: Shane D
authors: SD
authors: Morrison
authors: Vilson H
authors: VH
authors: Banushi
authors: Clea
authors: C
authors: Sarnquist
authors: Valbona H
authors: VH
authors: Gashi
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Osterberg
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Maldonado
authors: Arjan
authors: A
authors: Harxhi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report