Course and characteristics of depression over a 12-month period among Ghanaians living with HIV: the EVERLAST study

ABSTRACT

Individuals with HIV are predisposed to depression but there is limited data on its dynamics and correlates. We aimed to assess course and characteristics of depression among Ghanaian HIV patients over a 12-month period. We interrogated a longitudinal study dataset of patients at a tertiary hospital and assessed depression at month 0 and 12 using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Association between clinical, sociodemographic factors and changes in PHQ-9 scores were evaluated. Among 320 study participants, 171 (53.4%) and 55 (17.2%) had depression at month 0 and 12 respectively. Persistent depression was detected in 41 (24.0%) of the 171 patients with depression at month 0, whilst 135 (42.2%) of them never experienced depression. Patients' CD4 count was associated with depression at month 0 and 12 (p<0.05). Predictors of change in depression scores were urban dwelling [–1.98, 95%CI: –3.86 to –0.06, p=0.039], not knowing one's monthly income [2.10, 95%CI: 0.58 to 3.61, p=0.007], participant being single [–1.62 95%CI: –2.45 to –0.78, p<0.001] and being on antiretroviral therapy at recruitment [–1.5, 95%CI: –2.55 to –0.45, p<0.001]. There was a significant decrease in depression scores over a 12-month period and persistent depression is rife among this cohort of Ghanaians with HIV.

KEYWORDS:

• Persistent depression
• PHQ-9
• combined ART
• HIV
• Ghana

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the staff and management of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and all the study participants who consented to be part of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center (R21 TW010479-01).