Psychiatric illness, access and adherence to HAART: a brief review of recent findings and implications for care

Abstract

This review outlines research since 2006 addressing psychiatric illness and/or co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance abuse as it relates to HAART access and adherence. Highlighted here are effective or promising interventions, or models of care, designed to enhance adherence among HIV-infected individuals with mental illness. Overall, we found that recent studies reinforce earlier findings that co-occurring substance abuse and psychiatric illness are associated with HAART nonadherence. Studies of depression/anxiety disorders among HIV patients reviewed here show that while depression is related to poorer medication adherence, treatment for depression can lead to increased HAART adherence. New studies also suggest that HIV patients with psychiatric diagnoses can effectively maintain HAART adherence with close monitoring by providers. While there are still very few adherence interventions among HIV patients with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse, promising interventions include cognit...