Abstract
Adherence in HIV patients is a key predictor of morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Adherence is also the most important factor affecting treatment outcomes. Specifically, poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy results in development of viral resistance, viral cross resistance, progression to AIDS and opportunistic infections, in addition to reduced quality of life. Comorbid psychiatric disorders, especially Axis I diagnoses such as active substance abuse, depression, and anxiety, also adversely affect adherence outcomes, further impacting disease progression and quality of life negatively. In fact, the lifetime prevalence of psychiatric illnesses in HIV-infected persons can range from 1 to 2.5 times that of the general population, underscoring the need for consistent and routine psychiatric screening as well as treatment in this patient population. Moreover, poor adherence also hinders risk reduction and other prevention strategies.
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Suggested Reading
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APA treating HIV/AIDS: A quick reference guide.
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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Parrisbalogun, S. (2013). Adherence. In: Loue, S. (eds) Mental Health Practitioner's Guide to HIV/AIDS. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5283-6_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5283-6_5
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