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Radcliffe et al. (2007) looked at posttraumatic stress and trauma history among 30 teens and young adults (ages 18-24 years) living with HIV/AIDS who were predominantly male and African American.
Overall, participants reported a mean of 5.63 traumatic events, with 93% of the sample reporting that receiving a diagnosis of HIV was experienced as traumatic. Of these, 13.3% met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder in response to HIV diagnosis, while an additional 20% showed significant ... [post-traumatic] stress symptoms. Even greater rates of posttraumatic stress were reported in response to other trauma, with 47% of youth surveyed reporting symptoms of posttraumatic stress in response to such traumatic events as being a victim of a personal attack, sexual abuse, or being abandoned by a caregiver. (p. 501)
Radcliffe and colleagues urge care providers to
be aware of the traumatic nature of receiving a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS among adolescents and young adults. This may be particularly true among those youth who have already experienced multiple traumas. The symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress, reexperiencing, hyperarousal, and avoidance, may interfere with adherence to medical care, in that youth may miss clinic visits due to these mental health symptoms. Having counseling resources available or making referral to mental health professionals is an important component of providing comprehensive care to adolescents and young adults with HIV. (p. 507)
Continuing this focus on comprehensive care, Zanjani, Saboe, and Oslin (2007) examined "age differences in rates of mental health/substance abuse and behavioral health treatment" (p. 347) among 109 adults receiving HIV primary care. The investigators found that
[o]ver half of the sample displayed significant mental health and substance abuse symptoms … [and that] approximately a third [of these] were actively participating in behavioral health care. Major depression and illicit drug use appeared to be the most prevalent syndromes. However, individuals with mania and psychosis were most likely to be participating in behavioral health treatment, while individuals with at-risk drinking and illicit drug use were least likely to be participating in treatment. Furthermore, older-aged adults were less likely to be receiving behavioral health care when there was evidence of need. (p. 347)
"The conclusions of this study verify the need to include [mental health/substance abuse] care as part of HIV care, as well as illustrating the increased attention necessary for older HIV patients in order to prevent poor late-life physical and mental health outcomes" (p. 352).
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Fall 2007 Newsletter / Volume 9, Issue 1 
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