title: Depression Among HIV-infected Patients in Korea: Assessment of Clinical Significance and Risk Factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With prolonged life expectancies, mental illness has emerged as a disabling disorder among people with HIV.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of depression and its risk factors among Korean patients with HIV infections. Eighty-two HIV-infected patients completed structured questionnaires including the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Subjects with depression were compared to those without depression in terms of demographics, comorbidities, CD4 T-cell count, RNA copy numbers, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens, and adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated depression rate was 21% (17 of 82 subjects). Comorbidities (47% vs. 20%, P = 0.01) and unemployment (65% vs. 31%, P = 0.02) were risk factors for depression. Depressive patients were more likely to be anxious (71% vs. 29%, P < 0.01), to frequently miss clinical appointments each year (P = 0.04), and to have higher cumulative time lost to follow-up per month (P <0.01) compared to non-depressive patients. Only three depressive patients were referred to neuropsychologists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 20% of the Korean HIV patients in this study suffered from depression associated with poor adherence. Considering the low level of recognition of depression by clinicians, risk factor-based active assessment is recommended to manage depression properly in HIV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yu Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: In Seon
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Ji Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Woo Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Anxiety; Depression; HIV