The Association Between Mental Health of HIV Patients and Antiretroviral Medication Adherence

Background: Various factors, like mental disorders, may affect the desire for medication and adherence in HIV/AIDS patients. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine levels of neurotic disorders and associations of disorders level and Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) medication adherence in HIV/AIDS patients. Materials and Methods: Finally, 150 patients of Behavioral Disease Counseling Center of Shiraz were selected by a convenience method and were evaluated by Symptom Checklist-25 (SCL-25) and Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ). Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U tests were, Spearman's correlation coefficient and logistic regression were used to analyze the data by using SPSS-20 (P < 0.05). Results: Seventy-eight percent of patients had normal mental health status. Also, 83% had very good medication adherence. Female gender, single or divorced, and working in temporary and low-income jobs were associated with decreased mental health status. Higher age and education were associated with increased adherence. Anxiety was the most common and effective disorder. Decreased mental health' status was shown to reduce drug adherence. Conclusions: Treatment of mental disorders, particularly anxiety, can be one of the most effective ways to increase drug compliance in HIV/AIDS patients.