title: The influence of psychological variables on health-related quality of life among HIV-positive individuals with a history of intravenous drug use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intravenous drug use (IDU) remains a prominent pathway of HIV transmission in the United States, though little is known about modifiable factors influencing quality of life among IDUs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of psychological variables (e.g., depression and anxiety) on health-related quality of life among HIV-positive individuals with a history of IDU who were enrolled in outpatient treatment for opioid dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  108 HIV-positive individuals with a history of IDU and participating in current outpatient treatment for opiate dependence who were screened for participation in a depression and adherence study reported sociodemographic data, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Multidimensional Health Assessment using the ACTG-SF 21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression models controlling for disease stage and background characteristics identified significant negative relationships between General Health Perception and Functioning without Pain for anxiety and depression, and between Role Functioning and Physical Functioning for anxiety. CD4 cell count was significantly related to Physical Functioning only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that distress (both depression and anxiety) contribute significantly to variation in HRQoL over and above the effects of disease variables. Effective depression and anxiety treatment may result in improved overall functioning.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. cpsaros@partners.org
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Psaros
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Conall
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Cleirigh
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bullis
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Safren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*