Citation

Peng EYC, Lee MB, Morisky DE, Yeh CY, Farabee D, Lan YC, Chen YMA, Lyu SY. J. Formos. Med. Assoc. 2010; 109(3): 177-184.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Scientific Communications International)

DOI

10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60040-X

PMID

20434025

PMCID

PMC3101799

Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The seroincidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Taiwan has drastically increased since 2004, particularly among injection drug users and prisoners. The major purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence and correlates of psychiatric morbidity among HIV-infected male prisoners.
METHODS: In 2006, data were collected from all of HIV-infected male prisoners (n = 535) in seven prisons in Taiwan. This collection was performed using a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire in group settings directed by our interviewers. Psychiatric morbidity was measured using the five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale in 535 participants, which represented an 85% response rate. After excluding incomplete data, 479 participants were included in the analysis.
RESULTS: Psychiatric morbidity was present in 46% of participants. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that correlates of the five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale defined cases included the following: being a recidivist, having poor self-rated health status, and having experienced psychiatric symptoms in one's lifetime (e.g. significant physical pain or discomfort, depression for 2 weeks or longer, serious anxiety or tension, trouble understanding, concentrating, or remembering, and serious thoughts of suicide), with a Nagelkerke R(2) equal to 0.365.
CONCLUSION: Psychiatric morbidity is prevalent among HIV-infected male prisoners. Tailored HIV/AIDS education related to mental health is therefore suggested for inclusion as part of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS training program among incarcerated populations.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Adult; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Depression; Morbidity; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires; Prisons; Taiwan; Prisoners; Mental Disorders; HIV Infections