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Substance abuse and symptoms of mental illness among HIV-positive persons in the Southeast.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Whetten, K; Reif, SS; Napravnik, S; Swartz, MS; Thielman, NM; Eron, JJ; Lowe, K; Soto, T
Published in: South Med J
January 2005

OBJECTIVES: Mental illness and substance abuse have been consistently associated with poor HIV-medication adherence and other negative health outcomes. METHODS: A brief mental health and substance use screening instrument was administered to 1,362 HIV-infected individuals receiving care at two academic medical center Infectious Diseases Clinics in North Carolina. RESULTS: Study results indicated high frequencies of symptoms of mental illness (60%), substance abuse (32%), and co-occurring symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse (23%). Younger age (P = 0.03), male sex (P < 0.001), and higher viral load (P < 0.001) were associated with substance use problems. White race (P = 0.001), younger age (P = 0.023), and higher viral load (P = 0.042) were associated with symptoms of mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: In the Southeast, mental health and substance abuse services are sparse and stigma is high; thus, innovative treatment strategies are needed to address the high levels of co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. Antiretroviral therapies will not reach their potential for slowing the HIV/AIDS epidemic and prolonging survival if comorbidities that influence patient behavior are not addressed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

South Med J

DOI

ISSN

0038-4348

Publication Date

January 2005

Volume

98

Issue

1

Start / End Page

9 / 14

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Southeastern United States
  • Prevalence
  • Mental Disorders
  • HIV Infections
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Whetten, K., Reif, S. S., Napravnik, S., Swartz, M. S., Thielman, N. M., Eron, J. J., … Soto, T. (2005). Substance abuse and symptoms of mental illness among HIV-positive persons in the Southeast. South Med J, 98(1), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.SMJ.0000149371.37294.66
Whetten, Kathryn, Susan S. Reif, Sonia Napravnik, Marvin S. Swartz, Nathan M. Thielman, Joseph J. Eron, Kristin Lowe, and Tomas Soto. “Substance abuse and symptoms of mental illness among HIV-positive persons in the Southeast.South Med J 98, no. 1 (January 2005): 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.SMJ.0000149371.37294.66.
Whetten K, Reif SS, Napravnik S, Swartz MS, Thielman NM, Eron JJ, et al. Substance abuse and symptoms of mental illness among HIV-positive persons in the Southeast. South Med J. 2005 Jan;98(1):9–14.
Whetten, Kathryn, et al. “Substance abuse and symptoms of mental illness among HIV-positive persons in the Southeast.South Med J, vol. 98, no. 1, Jan. 2005, pp. 9–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/01.SMJ.0000149371.37294.66.
Whetten K, Reif SS, Napravnik S, Swartz MS, Thielman NM, Eron JJ, Lowe K, Soto T. Substance abuse and symptoms of mental illness among HIV-positive persons in the Southeast. South Med J. 2005 Jan;98(1):9–14.

Published In

South Med J

DOI

ISSN

0038-4348

Publication Date

January 2005

Volume

98

Issue

1

Start / End Page

9 / 14

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • Southeastern United States
  • Prevalence
  • Mental Disorders
  • HIV Infections
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences