Prevalence of mental distress and factors associated with symptoms of major depression among people living with HIV in Norway

ABSTRACT

For people living with HIV (PLHIV) who can access lifesaving treatment, HIV has become a chronic lifelong condition; however, PLHIV have more mental and somatic comorbidities than their HIV-negative peers. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of mental distress and identified factors associated with major depression among 244 well-treated PLHIV residing in Norway. Participants completed validated questionnaires covering mental and somatic health. The prevalence of mental distress, defined as a score on the Hopkins Symptom Check List-25 >1.75, was 32%, and that of symptoms of major depression, defined as a score on the Beck Depression Inventory-II ≥20, was 15%. The factors associated with major depressive symptoms identified using logistic regression were risk of drug abuse (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 15.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.28, 69.3), fatigue (AOR 12.5, 95% CI 3.90, 40.0), trouble sleeping (AOR 7.90, 95% CI 2.85, 21.9), African origin (AOR 3.90, 95% CI 1.28, 11.9), low education (AOR 3.31, 95% CI 1.18, 9.30), and non-disclosure (AOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.04, 10.0). Our findings indicate that the prevalence rates of mental distress and major depressive symptoms are higher among well-treated PLHIV residing in Norway than in the general population. These conditions are under-diagnosed and under-treated, and increased awareness is needed.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• anxiety
• mental distress
• HIV
• Norway

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

• SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the participants of this study for taking the time to complete the interviews, and the nurses at the outpatient clinics at SSHF and UNN for supporting the research processes and its implementation.

Disclosure statement

The Project group comprised Vegard Skogen, M.D., Ph.D., a specialist in clinical microbiology, internal medicine, and infectious diseases at UNN and University of Tromsø, The Arctic University (UiT); Tore Sørlie, M.D., Ph.D., a specialist in psychiatry at UNN and UiT; Ole Rysstad, M.D., a specialist in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases at the SSHF; and Birgit Lie, M.D., Ph.D., a specialist in community medicine at the SSHF.

Additional information

Funding

The Norwegian Directorate of Health funded part of this work. This report is independent research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not those of the funder of the project.