Assessment of Depression and Associated Factors in People Living with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Beck...

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and to examine the sociodemographic, clinical, and immunologic factors associated with depressive symptoms.

This retrospective cross-sectional study included 258 people living with HIV. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-I (BDI). Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical variables, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, immunologic parameters, and level of social support were examined. Appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests, as well as multivariable logistic regression analysis, were used for the statistical analyses.

The mean age of the participants was 41.4 ± 11.3 years, and 90.7% were male. The mean BDI score was 9.6 ± 7.7. In the univariable analysis, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with a lower CD4 cell count (p < 0.001), a higher HIV RNA level (p < 0.001), a family history of depression (p = 0.002), and a lower level of social support. In the multivariable analysis, a family history of depression (p = 0.009), a lower CD4 cell count (p = 0.005), and a higher viral load (p < 0.001) were independently associated with depressive symptoms.

Depressive symptoms are an important comorbidity among people living with HIV and are independently associated with a family history of depression, a low CD4 cell count, and high HIV RNA levels. However, the modest discriminatory ability of these immunologic and virologic parameters indicates that they are insufficient when used alone for depression screening or diagnosis. These findings support the integration of psychological assessment into routine HIV care to facilitate the early recognition of depressive symptoms.

Depressive symptoms were independently associated with a lower CD4 cell count, a higher HIV RNA level, and a family history of depression. Therefore, assessing depressive symptoms during the routine follow-up of people living with HIV and integrating appropriate psychosocial support into HIV care are important.