Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Manuscript
Title: Neurocognitive deficits in HIV-infected women and victims of childhood trauma.
Authors: Spies G, Fennema-Notestine C, Archibald SL, Cherner M, Seedat S
Year: 2012
Publication: AIDS Care
Volume: 24 Issue: 9 Pages: 1126-1135
Abstract:The studyinvestigated the behavioral and brain effects of childhood trauma and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, both separatelyand in combination, and assessed potential interactions in women who were duallyaffected. Eighty-three HIV-positive and 47 matched HIV-negative South African women underwent neuromedical, neuropsychiatric, and neurocognitive assessments. Univariate tests of significance assessed if either HIV infection or childhood trauma, or the combination, had a significant effect on neurocognitive performance. The majority of women were Black (96%) and had an average age of 30 years. An analysis of covariance revealed significant HIV effects for the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) learning and delaytrials (pB0.01) and the Halstead CategoryTest (HCT) (pB0.05). A significant trauma effect was seen on the HVLT delaytrial (pB0.05). The results provide evidence for neurocognitive dysfunction in memory and executive functions in HIV-infected women and memorydisturbances in trauma exposed women.

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