GENDER, AIDS, AND BEREAVEMENT: A COMPARISON OF WOMEN AND MEN LIVING WITH HIV

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the bereavement experience, psychiatric morbidity, and suicidality in bereaved men and women living with HIV. HIV + women (n = 31) who reported a loss in the recent 12 months were case matched to bereaved HIV + men (n = 62) on the basis of lifetime histories of major depression. Study participants were examined for grief reactions, psychiatric morbidity, mood symptomatology, and suicidality using the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief Revised, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III–R, the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating, and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Suicide. Bereaved HIV + women presented with intensified bereavement responses, a higher prevalence of current generalized anxiety disorder, and elevated thoughts and gestures of suicide and when compared to HIV + men. In conclusion, bereaved women living with HIV may be at increased risk for bereavement complicated with psychiatric morbidity and thoughts of suicide. It is critical that adequate mental health support services be available to this growing risk group of bereaved individuals.

*The San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC) Group is affiliated with the University of California, San Diego, the Naval Hospital, San Diego, and the San Diego Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, and includes Igor Grant, M.D., Director; J. Hampton Atkinson, M.D., Co-Director; Thomas Marcotte, Ph.D., Center Manager; Mark R. Wallace, M.D. and James L. Chandler, M.D., co-Investigators Naval Medical Center; J. Allen McCutchan, M.D., P.I. Neuromedical Core; Robert K. Heaton, Ph.D., P.I. Neurobehavioral Core; John Hesselink, M.D. and Terry Jernigan, Ph.D., Co-P.I.s Imaging Core; J. Allen McCutchan, M.D., J. Hampton Atkinson, M.D., and Ronald J. Ellis, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Trials Core; Daniel R. Masys, M.D., P.I. Data Management Unit; Ian Abramson, Ph.D., P.I. Biostatistics Core; and Michele Frybarger, B.A., Data Manager. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the United States Government.

This project was supported by NIMH grant 5 P50 MH45294. We gratefully acknowledge the help of Julie Nelson, formerly of University of California, San Diego. We also extend our gratitude to the study participants, both past and present, who continue to influence our work and lives immeasurably.

Notes

^aFisher's exact test (two-tailed) was used because of low expected frequency.

^aParticipants case matched 2:1 (male to female) on lifetime history of Major Depression.

^bFisher's exact test (two-tailed) was used because of low expected frequency.

^aFisher's exact test (two-tailed) was used because of low expected frequency.