Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Abstract
Title: Neurocognitive and psychiatric disturbances in HIV infection.
Authors: Grant I, and the HNRC Group
Year: 1993
Publication: Journal of Neurochemistry
Volume: 61 Issue: S Pages: S61
Abstract:HIV-infected persons can suffer from cognitive impairment and psychiatric disorders. The former are caused by direct CNS injury, either from HIV encephalitis, or opportunistic complications. Mild cognitive disorder (MND) consisting of disturbance in attention, speed of information processing, memory, and psychomotor slowing occurs in 50% of AIDS; in 7-14% severe dementia occurs. On MR imaging, one sees central and peripheral atrophy, and foci of hyperintensity. SPECT imaging reveals reduced tracer uptake even in CDC-II and -III. AZT treatment may reverse these abnormalities. Psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, depression) increase as disease progresses, but clinical diagnosis of depression occurs equally frequently in "at risk" seronegative controls as in HIV-infected persons. Thus, emotional distress in seropositives reflects higher "base rate" of psychopathology as well as reaction to illness.

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