Mental Status of HIV+ patients, referred to Counselling Center of Kermanshah Health Care Center (2002)

Introduction: Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a Fatal nervous system disorder associated with infections caused by retro family known as Human Immune virus (HIV). Regarding the high prevalence rate of mental disorders among the HIV⁺ patients referred to Kermanshah Health Center , the present research carried out .

Materials & Methods : The present study is a descriptive – cross sectional one in which 132 HIV⁺ patients were studied(11 f , 121 m) the patients in two Stages , by using Cut – off Point System (>5) and Self -  Rating Questionnaire  (SRQ – 24) as  a Screening  tool (First Stage) and Clinical Judgement Forwarded by the Psychiatrist on the basis of regulations (Second Stage) were studied and assessed . The data analysed by applying the descriptive statistics .

Results: The result revealed that 93.2% of the assessed patients were parallel to the diagnostic criteria  of  the  mental  disorders, 93.9 % (96.7% m - 63.6% f) with the drug  dependency  disorders, 43.2% (41.3% m - 63.6% f) mood disorders, 18.9% (19% m - 18/2% f) anxiety disorders, 11.4% (9.1% m - 36.4% f) Somatoform disorders. The above mentioned disorders were the most common  disorders  seen  in  each sample . Also , 74.24 % of the total shown to match with the diagnostic criteria for personality disorders at axis II- in which antisocial  personality (31.8%) and borderline disorders (18.9%) were the most commonly dignosed disorders respectively .

Conclusion : Regarding the results obtained from the present research and the high rate of the prevalence of the mental disorders in HIV⁺ patients, this group must be under special control for prevention.