Prevalence of and factors associated with major depressive disorder among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China

Abstract Background People living with HIV may suffer from mental disorders. We aimed to explore the prevalence of and factors associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China, about which little is known. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit HIV-positive individuals from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control of Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Yangjiang from September 2007 to September 2008. Data were collected by questionnaires. MDD was diagnosed and assessed by two psychiatrists using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders-Patient Edition (SCID-I/P) based on the DSM-IV criteria. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the factors associated with MDD. Results The prevalences of lifetime MDD and current MDD among the 339 included participants were 22.71% (95% confidence interval [CI] : 18.25–27.17%) and 12.09% (95% CI : 8.62%–15.57%), respectively. The results of multiple logistic regression showed that patients with AIDS had a higher risk of lifetime MDD ( odds ratio [OR]  = 2.69, 95% CI : 1.38–5.26) and current MDD ( OR  = 3.51, 95% CI : 1.59–7.75) than HIV-infected individuals. Participants with more number of negative life events were more likely to have lifetime MDD ( OR  = 2.33, 95% CI : 1.34–4.06) and current MDD ( OR  = 3.77, 95% CI : 1.76–8.09) than individuals with fewer negative life events. Individuals with higher score of social support were less likely to have lifetime MDD ( OR  = 0.45, 95% CI : 0.26–0.80) and current MDD ( OR  = 0.46, 95% CI : 0.21–0.97) than individuals with less social support. Conclusions The prevalence of MDD was high among HIV-positive individuals in China. AIDS diagnosis, decreased social support, and an increased number of negative life events were risk factors for MDD.