Introduction What is the difference between HIV infection and AIDS? Evaluating your health status Phase 1 - Primo-infection Phase 2 – Seropositive without symptoms Phase 3 – Seropositive with symptoms Phase 4 – AIDS Will I necessarily progress through all phases? What are CD4 cells? What is the viral load? When should I start medications to treat HIV (antiretrovirals)? How does anti-HIV treatment work? Why is it necessary to take several medications at the same time? What are the different types of antiretrovirals? How to choose the best combination of medications? How do I know if my treatment is working? Why are treatments unable to completely erradicate HIV from the body? What are the potential side-effects of antiretrovirals? Why is it sometimes necessary to change the medications in my triple therapy? What is medication resistance? What can I do to avoid resistance? Treatment adherence means: Can alternative or naturopathic/homeopathic therapies assist me in managing my HIV infection? Will I need to take medications for the rest of my life? What can I do to stay in good health? Condom breaks or tears? —Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) HIV and Depression HIV and Aging HIV and Neurocognitive Disorders KASA (Kaletra Adherance and Support Assistance)Program Links and References

Depression and HIV

What is depression? Am I really depressed… or perhaps I'm just tired? It is true that it’s not always easy to figure it out. Is it fatigue, job-related burnout or depression?

First off, to be able to say that someone is suffering from major depression, the person must have been experiencing five to nine symptoms related to depression for two weeks.

To help you get a clearer idea, you should ask yourself if your mood is depressed (every day or almost), or if your levels of interest and pleasure have decreased.

Then ask yourself if you have at least four of the following symptoms:

1. Loss of appetite and loss of at least 5% of body weight per month.
2. Insomnia or hypersomnia (more rare).
3. Agitation or psychomotor slowness (feeling listless).
4. Fatigue and loss of energy.
5. Feelings of guilt or lack of self-esteem.
6. Trouble concentrating.
7. Reoccurring thoughts of death and suicide.

30 to 60% of people affected with HIV may suffer from depression.

Depression is the most common psychiatric condition affecting HIV-positive patients.

It affects well-being and quality of life.

It can lead you to forgetting to take your anti-HIV drugs.

Risk factors 

• Being female.
• Previous history of depression.
• Failure of pharmacological treatment.
• Number of years living with HIV.
• Resilience with respect to HIV (capacity to adapt).
• Keeping HIV-positive status a secret.
• Another psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., substance abuse).
• Weak social support.
• Low level of education.

— Dr. Emmanuel Tremblay, Ph.D., neuropsychologist