Anxiety, Depression and Perception of the Quality of Life in the Patient with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as a complication is now considered a chronic disease and, although mortality and morbidity have been significantly reduced, the psychosocial impact of the disease generates painful consequences in the patient reflected in anxiety and depression. The concept of quality of life is global, multidisciplinary, and involves objective and subjective aspects. Health-related quality of life involves functioning and physical symptoms, psychological factors and social aspects. The interest of this review lies in the social impact of HIV, not only in relation to the economic and political repercussions for treatment and prevention, but also in the identification of variables related to the improvement of the quality of life of people with HIV. There is a great interest in the study of quality of life of patients with HIV / AIDS, and research has shown that there is a relationship between quality of life and psychological variables such as anxiety and depression, as well as biological parameters such as CD4 lymphocyte levels and the viral load that could perhaps be considered in health decisions and in interventions that promote protection and welfare factors. The implementation of interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with HIV / AIDS throughout the evolutionary period of infection is very important.