Depression

In an article published in January 2005 in the magazine Science in Africa, Dr. Soraya Seedat presented the results of a study conducted at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, in 149 recently diagnosed people (44 men and 105 women) in order to evaluate their reactions after being diagnosed. One of the most frequent effects was depression (34.9%), the rates being similar in both men and women, and different in regards to the general population where women are twice as likely to develop depression. More frequently, women experience an alteration known as post-traumatic stress, while men are more likely to abuse alcohol or start having risky sexual relations.

According to Dr. Seedat, women living with HIV make up a population that is at higher risk of developing depression, with a rate up to four times greater than those observed in HIV-negative women. She also adds that an adequate evaluation of one’s mental health in people with HIV should be included in the general examination.

She concludes that the results of the study could indicate that men’s and women’s treatment focus should be different, because of hormonal cycles that can influence how they respond to medication, including the possible treatments for physical and mental problems.

(http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/january/hivpsyche.htm)

Other professionals indicate that there is a relation between chronic depression in women and a decline in their CD4 counts, although the reasons why are not clear. One thing that has been proved is that depression is one of the leading cause of poor treatment adhesion.

Furthermore there has been a relation between the presence of depressive symptoms and a higher possibility of death. For this reason it is important to do a proper diagnosis as soon as possible in order to obtain positive results.