Prevalence of psychological symptoms and associated risk factors in a Spanish sample of HIV-positive youth compared to uninfected peers

• Published in: Anales de Pediatría 2022-03
• Main Authors: Velo Higueras, Carlos, Martín-Bejarano García, Manuela, Domínguez-Rodríguez, Sara, Ruiz Sáez, Beatriz, Cuéllar-Flores, Isabel, García-Navarro, Cristina, Guillén Martín, Sara, Ramos Amador, José Tomás, Navarro Gómez, María Luisa, González-Tomé, María Isabel
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• ISSN: 2341-2879
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2020.05.028

The aim of the study was twofold: (i)to determine the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety and sleep disturbances in young patients with vertically-transmitted HIV infection compared to uninfected peers, and (ii)to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial and medication-related variables and other clinical risk and protective factors related to psychological symptoms. We conducted a cross-sectional study in two groups with independent measures (36 youth with vertically transmitted HIV infection and 39 HIV-negative peers). We used three standardised assessment tools and a sociodemographic/psychosocial questionnaire (STAI, BDI, PSQI and adapted sociodemographic test). We performed univariate and multivariable analyses. The univariate analysis did not find significant differences between groups either in psychosocial factors or in the clinical scores. The multivariable analysis found that the presence of psychological symptoms was strongly associated with sociodemographic factors and past events. Psychosocial factors and the social environment seemed to correlate more strongly to psychological symptoms than HIV status and to explain better the current psychological state of individuals.