| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: Visual recall difficulties among HIV infected individuals with comorbid Bipolar Disorder are associated with worse medication adherence. | | Authors: Posada C, Moore DJ, Parikh M, Gouaux B, Tobin AC, Letendre SL, Deutsch R, Atkinson JH, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 2010 | | Publication: International Neuropsychological Society | | Volume: Issue: Pages: | | Abstract:Introduction: Learning and recall difficulties are found in both HIV and bipolar disorder (BD). In BD, verbal memory is often worse than visual memory, but in HIV both verbal and visual memory are similarly affected.
Method: HIV infected individuals with comorbid BD (HIV+/BD+, n=29) and without BD (HIV+/BD- n=29) were administered the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). Groups were comparable on demographic, HIV disease, and substance use factors, with the exception of a greater proportion of males in the HIV+/BD+ group. The outcome variables for both tests were t-scores for total learning and delayed recall. Medication adherence to both antiretroviral and psychotropic medications was tracked for 30-days using Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS).
Results: HIV+/BD+ individuals performed significantly worse than HIV+/BD-individuals on verbal and visual learning and recall (all ps < 0.05). The proportion of individuals impaired on visual learning and recall measures was significantly higher in the HIV+/BD+ group than in the HIV+/BD- group (both ps < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the proportion of individuals impaired on verbal learning and recall measures between the groups. Within HIV+/BD+ individuals, visual recall t-scores were significantly correlated with percent adherence to psychotropic medications (r = .42, p < 0.05). No other associations were observed between ARV and psychotropic adherence and verbal and visual learning and recall.
Discussion: Verbal and visual learning and recall impairments among HIV+ individuals with bipolar disorder, as well as an association between visual recall and medication adherence, highlights the need for healthcare providers to present treatment recommendations in both visual and verbal formats. |
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