Does Reducing Alcohol Use Among People with HIV Alleviate Psychological Distress and Symptoms of Depression? A Randomized Controlled Trial in Tshwane, South Africa (original) (raw)
Related papers
AIDS Care, 2020
Although there is evidence of individual associations between depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV (PLWH), few studies have established how the two risk factors may interact to predict viral suppression. We conducted secondary data analyses with two cohorts of Ugandan PLWH (N = 657) to investigate the hypothesized interaction between depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption and/or Phosphatidylethanol biomarker) prior to ART initiation with viral suppression (<550 copies/ml). We were unable to detect an interaction between depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use prior to ART initiation with viral suppression in the first two years (M = 19.9 months) after ART initiation (p = 0.75). There was also no evidence of a main effect association for depressive symptoms (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 0.88, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.50, 1.55) or hazardous alcohol use (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.80, 2.33). PLWH with depressive symptoms and/or hazardous alcohol use appear to exhibit similar levels of viral suppression as others in care; further work is needed to determine effects on HIV testing and treatment engagement.
The impact of alcohol use on depressive symptoms in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patientsâ€
Addiction, 2008
Aims-To examine the impact of alcohol use on depressive symptoms in HIV-infected patients. Design-Data were collected at 6-month intervals and analyzed to evaluate the association between alcohol dependence and consumption on depressive symptoms using longitudinal mixed effects regression models controlling for specified covariates. Measurements-The two independent variables were current alcohol dependence assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and past month consumption (heavy versus not heavy drinking) using a validated calendar-based method. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Participants-HIV-infected adults with current or past alcohol problems. Findings-Alcohol dependence and heavy alcohol use were significantly associated with higher CES-D scores in unadjusted models. In adjusted analyses, the association of current alcohol dependence persisted (mean difference in CES-D was 3.49 for dependence vs. non-dependence; 95% CI: 1.76-5.22), however the effect of heavy drinking was no longer statistically significant (mean difference in CES-D was 1.04 for heavy vs. not heavy drinking; 95% CI:-0.24-2.32). Conclusions-Alcohol use is associated with more depressive symptoms in HIV-infected patients with alcohol problems. This association remains significant after adjusting for potential confounders only when alcohol use meets criteria for alcohol dependence.
Alcohol Use, Depressive Symptoms and the Receipt of Antiretroviral Therapy in Southwest Uganda
AIDS and Behavior, 2008
Alcohol use and depressive symptoms are associated with reduced access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the developed world. Whether alcohol use and depressive symptoms limit access to ART in resource-limited settings is unknown. This cross-sectional study examined the association between alcohol use, depressive symptoms and the receipt of ART among randomly selected HIVpositive persons presenting for primary health care services at an outpatient HIV clinic in Uganda. Depressive symptoms were defined by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist and alcohol use was measured through frequency of consumption questions. Antiretroviral use was assessed using a standardized survey and confirmed by medical record review. Predictors of ART use were determined via logistic regression. Among 421 HIV-infected patients, factors associated with the receipt of ART were having at least primary education, having an opportunistic infection in the last 3 months, and not drinking within the last year.
AIDS and Behavior, 2011
This study evaluated estimates of depression symptoms, major depression, alcohol use or disorders and their association with ART adherence in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies published between January 1, 2006 and July 31, 2011 that documented rates of these mental health problems were identified through electronic databases. A pooled analysis of 23 studies reporting rates of depression symptoms and six studies reporting rates of major depression indicated a pooled estimate of 31.2% (95% CI 25.5-38.2%, Tau 2 = 0.23) and 18% (95% CI 12.3-25.8%, Tau 2 = 0.19) respectively. Few studies reported rates of alcohol use or disorders, and so we did not pool their estimates. Likelihood of achieving good adherence was 55% lower among those with depression symptoms compared to those without (pooled OR = 0.45 (95% CI 0.31-0.66, Tau 2 = 0.20, P value = 0.000). Interventions to improve mental health of HIV-positive individuals and to support adherence are desperately needed in sub-Saharan Africa.
The influence of depressive symptoms on alcohol use among HIV-infected Russian drinkers
Background: Depressive symptoms have been linked to HIV progression through a number of biobehavioral mechanisms including increased alcohol use. Although research supports an association between alcohol use and depressive symptoms among HIV patients, there have been few studies that have examined whether depressive symptoms predict subsequent drinking, especially among heavy drinking HIV-infected patients. Method: Heavy drinking Russian HIV-infected patients (n = 700) were recruited from addiction and HIV care settings for a randomized controlled trial of a risk reduction intervention [HERMITAGE]. GEE overdispersed Poisson regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption 6-months later. Results: In adjusted analyses, depressive symptom severity was significantly associated with drinks per day (global p = .02). Compared to the non-depressed category, mild depressive symptoms were significantly associated with more drinks per day [IRR = 1.55, (95% CI: 1.14, 2.09)], while moderate [IRR = 1.14, (95% CI: 0.83, 1.56)] and severe [IRR = 1.48, (95% CI: 0.93, 2.34)] depressive symptoms were not. Associations between depressive symptom severity and heavy drinking days were not statistically significant (global p = .19). Secondary analyses using the BDI-II screening threshold (BDI-II > 14) and the BDI-II cognitive subscale suggested an association between depressive symptoms and drinks per day over time but not heavy episodic drinking. Conclusions: Among heavy drinking HIV-infected patients, elevated depressive symptoms were associated with greater subsequent alcohol use. These findings suggest that depressive symptoms may be important to address in efforts to reduce alcohol-related risks among HIV-infected populations.
AIDS and Behavior, 2019
Alcohol, depression, and intimate partner violence (IPV) are endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. This article examines whether and how these conditions affect mothers living with HIV (MLH), compared to mothers without HIV (MWOH). In particular, we assess the influence of these comorbidities on engagement in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapies (ARV) among MLH. Data on maternal HIV care are typically based on clinic samples, with substantial loss to follow-up. This study fills that gap by including all mothers in specified areas. A cohort study examines MLH in Cape Town, South Africa recruited in pregnancy and followed repeatedly for 5 years, compared to MWOH. Almost all (98%) pregnant women in 12 neighborhoods (N = 594) were recruited in pregnancy. Mothers and children were reassessed five times over 5 years with high retention rates at each of the six assessments, from 98.7% at 2 weeks to 82.8% at 5 years post-birth. MLH's uptake and adherence to HIV care was evaluated over time associated with maternal comorbidities of alcohol use, depressed mood, and IPV using mixed effects logistic regression. MLH have fewer resources (income, food, education) and are more likely to face challenges from alcohol, depression, and having seropositive partners over time than MWOH. Only 22.6% of MLH were consistently engaged in HIV care from 6 months to 5 years post-birth. At 5 years, 86.7% self-reported engaged in HIV care, 76.9% were receiving ARVs and 87% of those on ARV reported consistent ARV adherence. However, data on viral suppression are unavailable. Alcohol use, but not depressed mood or IPV, was significantly related to reduced uptake of HIV care and adherence to ARV over time. Adherence to lifelong ARV by MLH requires a combination of structural and behaviorally-focused interventions. Alcohol abuse is not typically addressed in low and middle-income countries, but is critical to support MLH.
AIDS Care, 2009
We evaluated the association of alcohol consumption and depression, and their effects on HIV disease progression among women with HIV. The study included 871 women with HIV who were recruited from 1993-1995 in four US cities. The participants had physical examination, medical record extraction, and venipuncture, CD4+ T-cell counts determination, measurement of depression symptoms (using the self-report Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale), and alcohol use assessment at enrollment, and semiannually until March 2000. Multilevel random coefficient ordinal models as well as multilevel models with joint responses were used in the analysis. There was no significant association between level of alcohol use and CD4+ T-cell counts. When participants were stratified by antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, the association between alcohol and CD4+ T-cell did not reach statistical significance. The association between alcohol consumption and depression was significant (p<0.001). Depression had a significant negative effect on CD4+ T-cell counts over time regardless of ART use. Our findings suggest that alcohol consumption has a direct association with depression. Moreover, depression is associated with HIV disease progression. Our findings have implications for the provision of alcohol use interventions and psychological resources to improve the health of women with HIV.
Depression and social functioning among HIV-infected and uninfected persons in South Africa
AIDS Care, 2014
Depression and other health problems are common co-morbidities among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The aim of this study was to investigate depression, health status, and substance use in relation to HIVinfected and uninfected individuals in South Africa. Using a cross-sectional case-control design, we compared depression, physical health, mental health, problem alcohol use, and tobacco use in a sample of HIV infected (N=143) and HIV uninfected (N=199) respondents who had known their HIV status for two months. We found that depression was higher and physical health and mental health were lower in HIV positive than HIV negative individuals. Poor physical health also moderated the effect of HIV infection on depression; HIV positive individuals were significantly more depressed than HIV negative controls, but only when general physical health was also poor. We did not find an association between alcohol or tobacco use and HIV status. These results suggest the importance of incorporating the management of psychological health in the treatment of HIV.