Correlates of self-reported history of mental health help-seeking: a cross-sectional study among individuals with symptoms of a mental or substance use disorder initiating care for HIV in Cameroon

Mental health service utilization among patients followed up in tertiary HIV/AIDS clinics in Turkey: A need for integrated care

OBJECTIVES

Mental health (MH) care for people living with HIV (PLWH) emerges as an important unmet need, yet there are no integrated HIV-MH clinics in Turkey. Our aim is to determine MH service use and its associated factors in PLWH followed up in the HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in Istanbul/Turkey.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics of the Infectious Diseases (ID) departments in hospitals affiliated with the ACTHIV-IST Study Group. Structured interviews were performed using questionnaires that covered psychiatric state, medical history, and help-seeking behavior.

RESULTS

Out of 172 outpatients, 121 (70.3%) reported MH complaints after infection, and 65.6% felt a need to see MH professionals. Among those, 59% shared their MH distress with the ID team. However, only 20.7% applied to an MH service, and 16.5% received psychiatric treatment. Previous MH diagnoses (AOR = 4.11; 95%CI = 1.26-13.39), sharing the disease with the ID team (AOR = 4.18; 95%CI = 1.24-14.11), and being hospitalized due to HIV (AOR = 6.54; 95%CI = 1.21-35.39) emerged as the predictors of MH service use among those who would like to see an MH professional in logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONS

Closer contact with the healthcare system may increase the chances of PLWH receiving MH care. Thus, integrating MH services in HIV/AIDS care would help reach more PLWH who are distressed.

Examining the Impact of Organizational Support on the Secondary Traumatic Stress of Mental Health Professionals Exposed to Workplace Violence

Mental health professionals are at a heightened risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS) due to the higher prevalence of trauma-exposed individuals seeking clinical help compared to the general population. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to explore the association between exposure to workplace violence (WPV) and secondary traumatic stress, and the potential mitigating effects of organizational support and (2) to examine how the workplace setting (inpatient vs outpatient) affects the experience of STS. The study was cross-sectional. Over 58 days, survey data was collected from mental health professionals working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. A total of 2,549 professionals responded. The overall prevalence of STS across settings was 87%. The highest reported secondary traumatic stress levels were among nurse practitioners/APRNs (49.29%), followed by nurses (47.94%) and psychiatrists (46.85%). Levels of STS occurred at slightly higher levels among professionals in outpatient settings (48.39%) than those in inpatient settings (45.11%). Increased exposure to WPV correlated with higher levels of STS, while higher levels of perceived organizational support (POS) had a moderating effect on STS levels. This study suggests that STS is a significant phenomenon and that mental health professionals are at risk for developing the condition. Organizational support can play a role in mitigating the effects of WPV and STS. Interventions aimed at improving organizational support and building psychological resilience may help reduce the prevalence of STS among this population.

Prevalence and co-occurrence of symptoms of mental and substance use disorders among people with HIV age 40 and older in low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Due to the increased effectiveness of and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV (PWH) are living longer. As a result, the population of older PWH has increased. Mental and substance use disorders (MSDs) are common and frequently co-occurring among PWH and are associated with poor HIV care outcomes. Research into the prevalence and co-occurrence of MSDs among ageing PWH remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS

We analysed data collected between 2020 and 2022 from the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Sentinel Research Network cohort of PWH aged 40 years or older on ART at 11 HIV clinics in Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire, India, Kenya, Mexico, Uganda, Rwanda, Togo, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We estimated the prevalence and co-occurrence of unhealthy alcohol use (AUDIT-C ≥3 for women, ≥4 for men), unhealthy drug use (ASSIST >3 for cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens and/or opioids), and moderate to severe symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 ≥10), anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (PCL-5 ≥33). Psychiatric multimorbidity was defined as having symptoms of two or more disorders assessed. Log binomial models assessed the association between socio-demographic and HIV care characteristics and symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD or unhealthy substance use.

RESULTS

Of 2821 participants, the prevalence of unhealthy alcohol and drug use was 21% and 5%, respectively. The prevalence of moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD was 14%, 9% and 6%, respectively. Overall, the prevalence of psychiatric multimorbidity was 11%. Among those with symptoms of at least one mental health or substance use outcome assessed (n = 1036), the prevalence of psychiatric multimorbidity was 31%. In binomial models, the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety was higher, while the prevalence of unhealthy alcohol and drug use was lower among women than men.

CONCLUSIONS

Unhealthy alcohol use and symptoms of depression were most commonly reported, among this cohort of PWH aged 40 or older across 11 LMICs. Integration of MSD screening and treatment into HIV care should be prioritized. The effectiveness and implementation of transdiagnostic or multi-focus mental health treatment approaches in HIV care settings should be examined.

Coping Strategies and Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders Among People with HIV Initiating HIV Care in Cameroon

Little is known about the coping strategies used among people with HIV (PWH), especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and the extent to which adaptive or maladaptive coping strategies are associated with symptoms of mental health disorders. We interviewed 426 PWH initiating HIV care in Cameroon and reported the prevalence of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, overall and by presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Log binominal regression was used to estimate the association between each type of coping strategy (adaptive or maladaptive) and symptoms of each mental health disorder, separately. Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were commonly reported among PWH enrolling in HIV care in Cameroon. Across all mental health disorders assessed, greater maladaptive coping was associated with higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Adaptive coping was not associated with symptoms of any of the mental health disorders assessed in bivariate or multivariable models. Our study found that PWH endorsed a range of concurrent adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Future efforts should explore the extent to which coping strategies change throughout the HIV care continuum. Interventions to reduce maladaptive coping have the potential to improve the mental health of PWH in Cameroon.