2011 Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 35-41
The first recognized cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurred in the USA in 1981, and it has been 28 years since the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since the middle of the 1990s, the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the prognosis of HIV infection has remarkably improved, and this disease has been regarded as a “chronic disease.”
Despite the progress of HIV treatment, psychiatric disorders are still common with this disease. Some previous studies suggested psychiatric comorbidity rates of 50% and more. Psychiatric disorders (e.g. adjustment disorder, substance-related disorders, depression and other mood disorders) and cognitive dysfunction (e.g. HIV encephalopathy) in people with HIV infection are associated with decreased quality of life, decreased adherence to care, faster disease progression, and increased mortality. HIV/AIDS psychiatry plays an important role in improving adherence to self-care behaviors and treatment with HAART. Pharmacological treatment is necessary for the successful treatment of relieving psychiatric symptoms of HIV-infected individuals, but it should be done with a great deal of caution because many psychotropic drugs have cytochrome P450 3A4-dependent metabolism that can be blocked by many HAART regimens. Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (e.g. psychotherapy and social support) are helpful to deal with psychosocial factors and behavioral problems endured by HIV-infected individuals.
