Abdullayeva Nargiz, Mammadbayli Aytan, Taghiyeva Madina
Department of Neurology, Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Int J Prison Health (2024). 2025 Apr 29;21(2):187-196. doi: 10.1108/IJOPH-11-2023-0083.
This study aims to assess neurocognitive impairment, depression and anxiety level in HIV-infected individuals in penitentiary institutions of Azerbaijan.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A cross-sectional design was used to recruit incarcerated individuals in penitentiary institutions of Azerbaijan meeting the inclusion criteria (diagnosed with HIV). Participants completed standardized assessments to screen anxiety and depression symptoms, hospital anxiety and depression scale and neurocognitive functioning and mini mental status examination. Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, HIV disease progression, antiretroviral therapy adherence, history of substance abuse and duration of incarceration, were also collected as covariates of interest. The study was approved by Azerbaijan Medical University Ethics Committee (P.23 / 19.05.2022). Data were analyzed using student-Bonferroni and H-Kruskal-Wallis tests. Variance analysis was conducted using the ANOVA test, while discriminant analyses involved the χ2-Pearson test, through SPSS software, version 26.
Of the 88 HIV positive patients who agreed to participate, 99% were male, with a median age of 44 years (range: 30-62), median CD4 count 453.1 cells/µl (range: 153-1,290). The prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder was 72.7%. Occurrence of comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms was found to be 72% and 67%, respectively. Most patients (59.1%) were HIV-positive for more than five years. Increased depression and anxiety levels were identified mostly in first two years after admission to prison ( < 0.05). HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder was most commonly found among depressed patients ( = 0.009).
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the cooccurrence and interrelationships between anxiety, depression and neurocognitive disorders in individuals with HIV in prisons. It highlights the unique intersection of HIV infection, mental health challenges and incarceration in a country where research on HIV-related issues in prisons is still developing. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to identify targeted interventions that address the mental health needs of incarcerated individuals living with HIV in Azerbaijan, promoting their overall well-being and quality of life.
本研究旨在评估阿塞拜疆监狱中感染艾滋病毒个体的神经认知障碍、抑郁和焦虑水平。
设计/方法/途径：采用横断面设计，招募阿塞拜疆监狱中符合纳入标准（诊断为艾滋病毒感染）的在押人员。参与者完成标准化评估，以筛查焦虑和抑郁症状、医院焦虑和抑郁量表以及神经认知功能和简易精神状态检查。还收集了人口统计学和临床数据，包括年龄、性别、艾滋病毒疾病进展、抗逆转录病毒疗法依从性、药物滥用史和监禁时间，作为感兴趣的协变量。该研究获得了阿塞拜疆医科大学伦理委员会的批准（P.23 / 19.05.2022）。使用学生 - 邦费罗尼检验和H - 克鲁斯卡尔 - 沃利斯检验对数据进行分析。使用方差分析进行方差分析，而判别分析涉及χ2 - 皮尔逊检验，通过SPSS软件26版进行。
在同意参与的88名艾滋病毒阳性患者中，99%为男性，中位年龄为44岁（范围：30 - 62岁），中位CD4细胞计数为453.1个/微升（范围：153 - 1290）。艾滋病毒相关神经认知障碍的患病率为72.7%。发现合并抑郁和焦虑症状分别为72%和67%。大多数患者（59.1%）艾滋病毒呈阳性超过五年。抑郁和焦虑水平升高主要在入狱后的头两年被发现（<0.05）。艾滋病毒相关神经认知障碍最常见于抑郁患者中（=0.009）。
原创性/价值：本研究结果为监狱中艾滋病毒感染者焦虑、抑郁和神经认知障碍的共现及相互关系提供了有价值的见解。它突出了在一个监狱中与艾滋病毒相关问题的研究仍在发展的国家，艾滋病毒感染、心理健康挑战和监禁的独特交集。最终，本研究旨在有助于确定有针对性的干预措施，以满足阿塞拜疆感染艾滋病毒的在押人员的心理健康需求，促进他们的整体福祉和生活质量。
