Antidepressant treatment and adherence to antiretroviral medications among privately insured persons with HIV/AIDS

AIDS Behav. 2011 Nov;15(8):1819-28. doi: 10.1007/s10461-011-9938-6.

Abstract

In order to examine relationships between depression treatments (antidepressant and/or psychotherapy utilization) and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), we conducted a retrospective analysis of medical and pharmacy insurance claims for privately insured persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) diagnosed with depression (n = 1,150). Participants were enrolled in 80 insurance plans from all 50 states. Adherence was suboptimal. Depression treatment initiators were significantly more likely to be adherent to ART than the untreated. We did not observe an association between psychotherapy utilization and ART adherence, yet given the limitations of the data (e.g., there is no information on types of psychological treatment and its targets), the lack of association should not be interpreted as lack of efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Depression / drug therapy*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Insurance Claim Review
  • Insurance, Health*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Private Sector*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents