HIV infection is associated
with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which is influenced by
immunovirological factors, negative affect, neurocognitive impairment, and
functional dependence. Although apathy is a common neuropsychiatric sequela of HIV
infection, emerging findings regarding its unique role in lower HRQoL have been
mixed.
The present study was guided by Wilson and Cleary's (1995), model in
examining the association between apathy and physical and mental HRQoL in 80
HIV+ individuals who completed a neuromedical examination, neuropsychological
assessment, structured psychiatric interview, and a series of questionnaires
including the SF-36. Apathy was measured using a composite of the apathy
subscale of the Frontal Systems Behavioral Scale and the vigor-activation
subscale of the Profile of Mood States.
Independent of major depressive
disorder, neurocognitive impairment, functional status, and current CD4 count,
apathy was strongly associated with HRQoL. Specifically, apathy and CD4 count were
significant predictors of physical HRQoL, whereas apathy and depression were
the only predictors of mental HRQoL.
All told, these findings suggest that
apathy plays a unique role in HRQoL and support the importance of assessing and
managing apathy in an effort to maximize health outcomes among individuals with
HIV disease.
Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/2t95BY
By: Kamat R1, Woods SP1,2, Cameron MV1, Iudicello JE1; HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP) Group.
- 1 Department of Psychiatry , University of California , San Diego , CA , 92093 , USA.
- 2 Department of Psychology , University of Houston , Houston , TX , 77004 , USA
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
No comments:
Post a Comment