Author(s)

Zheyin Chen

Corresponding Author

Zheyin Chen

ABSTRACT

Depression in HIV (Human immunodeficiency Virus) patients has started to become a pressing issue in the current decade. More and more research has shown that the prevalence of depression symptoms among HIV patients is higher than the public. ART (Anti-retroviral Therapy) drugs are the core medications that could slow down the progression of HIV towards the final stage of HIV, AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Still, these drugs are not going to cure the adverse psychological situation among HIV patients. There need to be sufficient epidemiological studies about depression among HIV patients to enable society and physicians to help improve the psychological situation of HIV patients. Some of the ART drugs have psychological side effects, which non-adherence to therapy will cause a worsen side effect, which could lead to depression. In addition, depression could diminish the efficacy of ART drugs by impeding the immune functions, which could start a downward spiral of both physical and psychological conditions of HIV patients. HIV patients would also meet obstacles in society because of lower socioeconomic status and worsening physical condition and experience more social stigma and violence because of their identity as HIV-positive people. Hence, proper interventions are necessary to provide psychiatric support to HIV patients. Since ART drugs play an important part in HIV patients' lives, improving access to ART drugs is fundamental. Because of the lack of professional medical training for psychiatrists in developing countries, it is better to either provide mental health knowledge to existing physicians or establish a system that could use layperson as the bridge between HIV patients and professional psychiatrists. This review paper will include different epidemiological studies to demonstrate the relationship between depression and HIV patients while also including proper interventions to reduce the prevalence of depression. Further investigations about the relationship between depression and HIV patients are needed, and different types of interventions should be tried in various countries to develop the best plan that could be implemented globally.

KEYWORDS

Depression in HIV patients, Sub-Saharan Africa, ART drugs psychological influence, Socioeconomic status, Psychosocial factors, Bidirectional relationship, Interventions to reduce the prevalence of depression, Training layperson, Integration of Treatments