Mental health issues and HIV/AIDS: HIV-specific screening and treatment tools for mood disorders
Abstract
Key take-home messages
- HIV-specific screening and treatment tools for substance abuse and mood disorders have not been developed. The following are primarily recommendations from experts in the HIV field.
- Physical symptoms of depression are difficult to distinguish from the physical manifestations of HIV, except perhaps to physicians with a particular expertise in serving people with HIV. Following an initial screen, using the PHQ-9 noted above, physicians and professionals without an expertise in HIV infection should consider seeking consultation or referring to a specialist.
- With the exception of depression, mood disorders and substance abuse disorders among people with HIV are poorly addressed in the literature.
- Significant additional research is necessary to investigate the interactions of psychopharmacology and HAART.
Authors
The Ontario HIV Treatment Network: Rapid Response Service
Year
2009
Topics
- Population(s)
- General HIV+ population
- Mental Health
- Depression
- Psychiatric disorders
