Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the rates of major depression and suicidality and their associations with change in daily functioning in a sample of human immunodeficiency viruses(HIV) infected persons and HIV-negative controls.Methods The participants were 28 HIV-positive persons and 23 demographically matched HIV-negative controls.Major depressive disorder(MDD) and history of suicidality were determined with the Chinese version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview(CIDI),and current severity of depression and suicidal ideation were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory(BDI),and daily functioning with the Activity of Daily Living(ADL) questionnaire.Results Almost 79%(n=22) of HIV-positive persons but just 4%(n=1) of HIV-negative controls met the criteria for MDD during their lifetime.Only one of the 22 HIV-positive individuals with MDD had a previous diagnosis of MDD, and the remaining 21 participants developed MDD within 6 months after testing HIV positive.In those 21 ones,5(24%) reported severe depressive symptom(BDI total 29),7(33%) reported moderate severe symptom(BDI =17—29),and 4(19%) had active suicidal thoughts even after the median of 16 months from learning of their HIV infection.Both depression and HIV status independently predicted worse daily functioning.In HIV-positive subjects with depression,only two had received a psychiatric evaluation and were in treatment for their depression.Conclusion Our study presents evidence of high rates of major depression and suicidality in HIV infected persons.Most developed depression within six months after learning of their HIV infection and about two-thirds of them still reported moderate to severe levels of depression symptoms after an average of two years from learning of their HIV infection.The severity of depression is significantly associated with impairment in daily functioning.

Depression and suicidality in human immunodeficiency viruses infected persons

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