Return to search

Neuropsychological and emotional correlates of HIV infection spectrum disorders

Documentation of neurological complications and neuropathological findings arising in most AIDS patients has stimulated the need for an investigation of the brain-behaviour relationship associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that a chronic subclinical AIDS dementia exists in view of the neurotropic quality of HIV. Participants were 59 male homosexuals distributed as follows: 17 healthy HIV seronegative, 14 healthy HIV seropositive, 14 AIDS-Related Complex, and 14 AIDS. They were administered a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests, including measures of attention, cognition, memory, language, executive, and sensorimotor functions. An examination of the emotional and psychological concomitants was performed using questionnaires of personality (MMPI), anxiety (STAI), and health-related behavioural dysfunction (SIP). Group comparisons were conducted on the basis of Health Status (Healthy vs Nonhealthy) and Medical Diagnosis (HIV-, HIV+, ARC, & AIDS). Results revealed a significant Health Status effect overall, as well as evidence for a deterioration of higher mental abilities occuring with progression of HIV infection. These findings appear to be independent of the emotional and psychological factors, which are felt to be an integrative part of the AIDS-Dementia Complex (ADC). / Graduate

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/9469
Date18 June 2018
CreatorsSarazin, Francine Fleur-Ange
ContributorsSpreen, Otfried
Source SetsUniversity of Victoria
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatapplication/pdf
RightsAvailable to the World Wide Web

Page generated in 0.0019 seconds