Original Research

Psychopathology and coping in recently diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients - the role of gender

Benjamin O Olley, Faniswa Gxamza, Soraya Seedat, Hugo Theron, Dan J Stein, Jantjie Taljaard, Emile Reid, Helmuth Reuter
South African Journal of Psychiatry | Vol 10, No 1 | a119 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v10i1.119 | © 2004 Benjamin O Olley, Faniswa Gxamza, Soraya Seedat, Hugo Theron, Dan J Stein, Jantjie Taljaard, Emile Reid, Helmuth Reuter | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 08 August 2008 | Published: 01 April 2004

About the author(s)

Benjamin O Olley, Medical Research Council Unit on Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa
Faniswa Gxamza, Medical Research Council Unit on Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa
Soraya Seedat, Medical Research Council Unit on Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa
Hugo Theron, Medical Research Council Unit on Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa
Dan J Stein, Medical Research Council Unit on Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa
Jantjie Taljaard, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa
Emile Reid, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa
Helmuth Reuter, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa

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Abstract

Background. Although there is growing literature on the psy- chological responses to and the psychopathology associated with HIV/AIDS, few investigations have focused on the role of gender. This study compared psychiatric morbidity, coping responses, and disability in male and female outpatients recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Method. One hundred and forty-nine patients (44 male, 105 female) with HIV/AIDS (mean ± standard deviation (SD) months since diagnosis 5.8 ± 4.1) attending an infectious dis- eases clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, were evaluat- ed. Subjects were assessed using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Carver Brief COPE, and the Sheehan Disability Scale. In addition, negative life events and risk behaviours were evaluated.

Results. Fifty-six per cent of patients were diagnosed with a psy- chiatric disorder, most commonly major depression (34.9%), dysthymic disorder (21.5%), post-traumatic stress disorder (14.8%), and alcohol dependence (10.1%). There were no significant gender differences in the prevalence of mood disor- ders in the sample. Men, however, were more likely than women to meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or depen- dence, and to engage in certain risky sexual behaviours. Women were more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress dis- order, and to use coping strategies of planning and religion to deal with the illness. There were no significant gender differ- ences in disability.

Conclusion. Psychiatric disorders are common in recently diag- nosed HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa. Clinicians should be aware of the high prevalence of mood disorders in both men and women, and of gender-different responses such as increased alcohol and substance use and more risky sexual behaviour in men.


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