Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d : H u m a n Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection, its diagnosis, and reaction of the society towards people living with it can adversely affect the psychological well being of the patients. It is important to elucidate factors which differentiate Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients with and without associated mental morbidity.
Objective: To determine factors associated with the development of psychiatric disorders in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) by comparing the socio-demographic data, clinical characteristics and risk behaviour patterns among PLWHA who have psychiatric disorders and those without it.
Methods: The study was carried out at the HIV clinics of University of llorin Teaching Hospital. Study population consisted of 300 consenting
HIV positive patients. Information about their sociodemographic variables and risky behaviour pattern were obtained using a proforma questionnaire prepared by the researchers, relevant clinical characteristics such as medications, Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) cell counts and complications were extracted from the patients case notes and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders were made according to Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of mental disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria using the Mini International Neuro psychiatric Interview (MINI) Results: Significant associations were found between the development of psychiatric disorders in PLWHA and female gender, partners having multiple sexual partners, not being on anti-retroviral drugs, having low CD4 cell count level and having complications arising from the illness.
Conclusion: Efforts aimed at modifying risky behaviour and clinical factors found to be associated with psychiatric morbidity will help to reduce the
level of mental morbidity among PLWHA in the study population