Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, salivary cortisol, medication adherence, and CD4 levels in HIV-positive individuals

Abstract

Previous research has reported rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following diagnosis with a life-threatening disease ranging from 5 to 42%. However, few studies have examined the impact of PTSD symptoms on disease markers or adherence to medical regimens. The present study represents an initial examination of the relationships among self-reported PTSD symptoms stemming from diagnosis with HIV, CD4 cell counts, salivary cortisol levels and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 110 African-American and Caucasian individuals with HIV. Results revealed that the relationship between PTSD and disease progression is multifaceted: PTSD symptoms were related to worse adherence to HAART therapy, but were also associated with lower morning salivary cortisol levels and higher CD4 cell counts.

Acknowledgments

Preparation of the manuscript was supported, in part, by National Institutes of Mental Health grants R01 MH62042-01 (DLD) and R03 MH62283 (LMB). We wish to thank Michael Baker and Jelena Pavlovic for assistance with data collection and data entry, and the staff of Violet's Cupboard, Akron, OH for assistance with recruitment.