Download HIV/AIDS causes Mental Disorders

HIV/AIDS and Mental Health: A Discussion Paper
Prevalence of Mental Disorders in PLWHA
The Relationship between HIV/AIDS
and Mental Health
Lifetime Occurrence of Psychiatric Disorders
38-73%
Central Nervous System (CNS) Lesions
75%
Multiple CNS Lesions
30%
Cognitive Impairment
50%
Dementia*
20%
• HIV/AIDS causes Mental Disorders:
HIV/AIDS itself can lead to psychological
conditions due to circumstances surrounding
the disease, and psychiatric conditions resulting
from HIV- related neurological changes.
One or More Episodes of Major Depression
60%
• Mental Disorders may lead to New Strains of
HIV: There is a strong correlation between MH
disorders and noncompliance with HIV/AIDS
treatments. Therefore, addressing mental
disorders is critical for preventing the emergence
of deadlier strains of AIDS.
Substance Abuse Disorder
• Mental Disorders Influence Behavior:
Cognitive disorders, substance abuse, and
disorders of personality can lead to a greater
possibility of HIV infection and spread by
reducing the likelihood of treatment and
increasing risky behavior.
Psychosis
0.2-15%
Mania (with no family history)
8%
20-73%
* Reported in fewer than 2% of people taking AZT
Psychosocial Risks and
Vulnerabilities for
HIV/AIDS
• Poverty leads to trading sex to meet basic needs, less
choice over condom use, and possibly multiple sexual
partners for economic protection.
• Humanitarian Crises lead to weakened social
services, widespread unemployment, social displacement
and desperation.
• Conflicts precipitate forced displacement and sudden
destitution, the collapse of social structures and breakdown
of rule of law.
• Childhood Sexual Abuse leads to early sexual activity,
prostitution and promiscuous sexual practices.
• Educational Level is linked to condom use.
• Gender Inequality leaves women socially,
biologically and economically more vulnerable to
HIV/AIDS.
• Stigma and Discrimination prevent the
infected from seeking treatment and modifying
risky behavior.
• Mental Illness can impair judgment, leading to
a higher risk of infection.
• Substance Abuse can lead to initial infection
and subsequent spread due to reduced inhibitions
and clouded judgment.
Consequences of Not Addressing Mental Health within the HIV/AIDS Pandemic
1. Mental and behavioral disorders
constitute 10% of DALYS
for non-communicable disease in
developing countries. HIV/AIDS has
been causally linked to all conditions
except obsessive compulsive disorder.
2. Mental disorders are a major risk
factor for non-adherence to drug
regimens.
Distribution of DALYs for Mental Disorders in Low
and Middle Income Countries
24%
38%
8%
9%
10%
11%
Unipolar Depression
Bipolar Depression
Alcohol Dependence
Psychoses
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders
3. Mental disorders lead to risky behavior by impairing judgment, reducing fear of consequences, and
increasing vulnerability to outside influences.
4. HIV/AIDS- related mental disorders lead to economic loss by disrupting functioning and reducing
short and long-term productivity. If they are not addressed, the costs of travel to specialists
and days of work forgone can be triple the health care costs of treatment.