Psychopathology in human immunodeficiency virus infection: lifetime and current assessment

The present study determined lifetime and current psychiatric functioning in a sample of homosexual or bisexual men at various stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in order to address several questions regarding the relationship between psychopathology and HIV infection. HIV+ asymptomatic or symptomatic and HIV- homosexual or bisexual men completed self-report measures of psychological and health functioning and participated in structured diagnostic interviews. Additional information regarding HIV-related life events and their potential relationship to onset of disorder and family history of psychiatric disorder were obtained. A high lifetime prevalence of affective and substance use disorder was found, with almost one half of the sample meeting criteria for both disorders. Lifetime affective disorder diagnosis was associated with a positive family history of affective disorder. HIV-related events were most closely associated with onset or recurrence of affective disorder compared with other disorders. Low current rates of psychiatric disorder and levels of emotional distress were found, with no differences in degree of psychiatric adjustment across stage of infection. We conclude that the lifetime prevalence of certain categories of psychiatric disorder is high in both HIV+ and HIV- homosexual samples. Increased rates of psychiatric disorders do not appear to be a consequence of HIV infection. However, episodes of illness, particularly affective disorder, may develop following an HIV-related event such as confirmation of infection. Although symptomatic subjects have more somatic difficulties, there appears to be no relationship between stage of illness and level of emotional distress.