Survey: 80% of people with HIV have symptoms of depression or anxiety

A survey of HIV-positive people and AIDS physicians conducted by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care shows that more than 80% of HIV-positive people have symptoms of depression or anxiety. More than 84% of doctors who treat HIV patients reported that their patients "frequently" or "very frequently" had symptoms of depression, and 81% reported their patients had symptoms of anxiety. The most common symptoms reported were headaches, lethargy, insomnia, impaired concentration, and mood swings. While psychiatric symptoms have been linked to several factors of HIV disease, including its impact on the central nervous system, nearly 84% of the doctors surveyed said they believe HIV antiretroviral drugs are a leading cause of the most common symptoms.