Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder as a risk factor for substance use among adults living with HIV

This study examined the association between symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and substance use among 932 people living with HIV (PLWH) in Florida. PLWH completed a 45-minute questionnaire assessing demographics, symptoms of GAD and depression, and use of substances including alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, crack/cocaine, and injection drugs. The GAD-7 measured symptoms of anxiety and participants were categorized as experiencing none/mild anxiety (score 0-9) or moderate/severe symptoms (score ≥10). Adjusted binary logistic regressions assessed the association between moderate-severe GAD symptoms and substance use while controlling for covariates, including depressive symptoms. Approximately one-third (31.4%) of the sample reported experiencing moderate/severe symptoms of GAD. After controlling for covariates, PLWH with moderate/severe symptoms of GAD had greater odds of reporting current cigarette use (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.18-2.45 p = 0.004), past 30-day hazardous alcohol consumption (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.04-2.16, p = 0.028), and past 12-month non-injection crack/cocaine use (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.13-2.69, p = 0.011) compared to PLWH reporting none/mild symptoms. Findings demonstrate that moderate/severe GAD symptoms were common among this sample of PLWH in Florida and were associated with use of cigarettes, crack/cocaine, and hazardous alcohol consumption. Future studies should explore interventions to reduce comorbid anxiety and substance use.