title: The impact of comorbid clinical depression on the health-related quality of life of adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy in maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globally, depression compromises the quality of life (QOL) of people suffering from it. We assessed the impact of comorbid depression on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in northeastern Nigeria in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and three adults on HAART were recruited for this study from the ART clinic of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in northeastern Nigeria. The depressive disorder module of the Composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI version 3.0) and the WHO quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) were used for the evaluation of depression and quality of life respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of depression in this study was 19.8%. The depressed respondents rated their HRQOL poorer than their nondepressed counterparts on the physical, psychological, social relationships and environmental domains as well as the global outcome, as shown by these statistically significant findings (T = 9.739, P = <0.001), (T = 8.972, P = <0.001), (T = 6.533, P = <0.001), (T = 8.913, P = <0.001), and (T = 10.018, P = <0.001), respectively. Female gender, CD4 counts <200/mm(3) and diagnosis of depression were significant predictors poor QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression has a negative impact on the QOL of the respondents. We therefore recommend incorporation of the routine screening of this important psychiatric comorbidity into the care of this vulnerable group in order to optimize patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Abdu
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Wakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Training, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Jidda Mohammed
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Wakil Musa
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Abba
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shehu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Isa Bukar
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Rabbebe
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omeiza
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beida
keywords: Comorbid depression; highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); northeastern Nigeria