Citation

Reilly KH, Clark RA, Schmidt N, Benight CC, Kissinger P. AIDS Care 2009; 21(10): 1298-1305.

Affiliation

Tulane University Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09540120902732027

PMID

20024706

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychological outcome of any disaster. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of PTSD on disease progression among HIV-infected persons in metropolitan New Orleans post-hurricane Katrina. One-year post-storm, a convenience sample of 145 HIV-infected patients who returned to care at the HIV Outpatient Program clinic in New Orleans were interviewed. Clinical factors pre and one and two years post-disaster were abstracted from medical records and compared by PTSD status. Of the 145 participants, 37.2% had PTSD. Those with PTSD were more likely than those without PTSD to have detectable plasma viral loads at both follow-up time points post-disaster and more likely to have CD4 cell counts <200/mm(3) two years post-disaster. They were also more likely to have had medication interruptions immediately post-disaster. Our findings corroborate the findings of others that PTSD accelerates HIV disease progression. Disaster planners should consider the special counseling and medication safeguards needs of HIV-infected persons.

Language: en