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11th Annual Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]20–23 April 2005, Burlington Hotel·Dublin·Ireland |
[AUTHOR(S):] A Holmes, S O’Dea, A O’Dwyer, F Mulcahy
St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
BHIVA Conf 2005 Apr 20-23;11:O12
BACKGROUND: Psychiatric morbidity in HIV has been well documented in western populations, but not in sub-Saharan African [SSA] immigrants.
AIM: To assess psychological morbidity in HIV positive SSAs, and evaluate illness-related variables on presentation.
METHODS: Retrospective review of patient notes.
RESULTS: Of a cohort of 324 [229 female, 95 male], 24 patients were referred to the Department of Psychological Medicine. This referral rate is 7.4%, compared to 5.9% [67/1138] in the non-SSA cohort. Diagnosis of depression was associated with increasing HIV disease progression and was made in 12 [50%] of patients, predominantly in females [75%, 18/24]. Psychosis was diagnosed in 5 [25%]; cases occurring within three months of HIV diagnosis. 3 of these patients [60%] had an AIDS defining illness. Anxiety and adjustment disorders accounted for 7 [29%]. Some cases were related to violence/sexual assault that had resulted in HIV acquisition. Organic brain disease accounted for 2 referrals.
CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the hypothesis that SSA immigrants are at increased risk of psychological morbidity. The incidence of psychotic illness was notably high. We believe that cultural beliefs and the influence of immigration are important factors in both the rate and type of psychological morbidity.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: A Holmes
2005-04-20
O12
Copyright © 2005 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD