[Depressive symptoms in people living with HIV: related factors]

People living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) are at a high risk of depressive symptoms attributed to disease progression and HIV-related stress. While depressive symptoms are difficult to detect, in HIV patients they may negatively impact upon quality of life, decrease adherence to antiretroviral therapies, and further exacerbate disease progression.

Study purposes were to: (1) explore relationships among immune function indicators, perceived stress, social stigma and depressive symptoms and (2) identify depressive symptom indicators in HIV patients.

Researchers recruited a total of 160 participants from infectious disease outpatient clinics at a university hospital in southern Taiwan. Chart reviews and four self-administered questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Perceived Stress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Social Impact Scale) were used to collect data.

Symptoms of depression (BDI >= 14) were observed in 68 (42.5%) patients and symptoms of major depression (BDI >= 29) in 25 (15.6%). We found immune function indicators negatively associated with depressive symptoms (p < .05) and perceived stress and social stigma positively associated with depressive symptoms (p < .01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that perceived stress and social stigma accounted for 44.4% of depressive symptom variance.

Findings suggest that reducing perceived stress and social stigma may positively affect perceived depressive symptoms in this population and may be referenced in future development of related interventions.