Long-term impact of HIV diagnosis on mood and substance use--St Stephen's cohort study

Twenty HIV positive and 68 HIV negative subjects were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and by the Alcohol and Drugs Frequency Schedule immediately prior to notification of their HIV serostatus and 6 months after serodiagnosis. The 2 groups did not differ significantly in levels of anxiety or depression at baseline or follow-up. There were borderline levels of pathological anxiety prior to notification of HIV serostatus in both groups. The drop to normal levels of anxiety which had occurred by follow-up was significant in the HIV positive group. About a third of subjects in both groups were regularly making use of alcohol and/or drugs, both at baseline and follow-up. Mean levels of weekly alcohol intake for both groups ranged from about 20 to 30 units per week. The drugs most commonly used (in any frequency) were nitrates ('poppers') and cannabis.