title: Severe mental illness and retention in anti-retroviral care: a retrospective study.
abstract: Severe mental illness (SMI) in people living with HIV (PLWH) may impact on the initiation and adherence to combination antiretroviral treatment. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective folder review of 100 PLWH suffering from an SMI, in Cape Town, South Africa. Information pertaining to whether these patients had attended a six-month visit at the referral HIV clinic after discharge from a psychiatric hospital was obtained. Of the 100 participants, 63 did not attend a first 6-month HIV clinic follow-up. There were no significant differences between 6-month attenders and non-attenders on demographic or clinical variables. After adjustment, respondents who had been re-admitted to a psychiatric hospital more than once were more likely not to attend their follow-up visit compared to those with no re-admissions (1 re-admission: PR = 1.52, 95 % CI 1.00-2.31; 2 or more re-admissions: PR = 1.60, 1.08-2.37). PLWH who have a co-morbid SMI are an especially vulnerable group of patients. Psychosocial support and interventions such as case management may be useful.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa, John.Joska@uct.ac.za.
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Joska
authors: Ade
authors: A
authors: Obayemi
authors: Henri
authors: H
authors: Cararra
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Sorsdahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents