Depressive symptoms among HIV positive drug users in Bahrain

Abstract EN

All 24 male patients who attended the outpatient clinic in the alcohol and drug rehabilitation unit at the psychiatric hospital in Manama in 1999 and were HIV 'positive participated in the study to assess the extent and severity of depressive 'symptoms, six months after their sero-positivity notification.

They were interviewed and given the Arabic version of (HRS-D) Hamilton depression rating scale.

Results showed that 11(45%) of the group showed severe to moderate depressive symptoms, seven (29%) showed some depressive symptoms and six (25%) showed no depressive symptoms.

The results affirm the common occurrence of depressive symptoms in HTV positive patients.

Psychosocial and cultural implications of the results are discussed.