Antidepressant therapy can improve adherence to antiretroviral regimens among HIV-infected and depressed patients

J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2007 Feb;27(1):58-61. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e31802f0dd1.

Abstract

Several strategies have been introduced to manage nonadherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Treatment with antidepressants may improve self-reported adherence. In this brief report, a small sample of HIV-depressed patients (n = 9) were treated for a 6-month period with antidepressants improving self-reported adherence based on the HAART scale (poor, good, satisfactory, and optimal). Before the antidepressant treatment, adherence was reported as "good" by 3 patients and "satisfactory" by 6 patients. After antidepressant therapy, adherence to antiretroviral regimes was statistically higher in HIV-depressed on treatment than in HIV-depressed patients not treated with antidepressants (P < 0.0001). We used chi2 test with a significance level at P < 0.05. Treating depression in HIV-infected patients may serve to improve adherence to HAART.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • Depressive Disorder / complications
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents