Abstract:
Background: Cognitive impairment is an established phenomenon in HIV infected individuals and patients that have
psychosis. However there is need to establish the severity of the impairment if patients are co morbid with both conditions.
Aim: To compare cognitive function among HIV positive individuals and HIV negative individuals with psychosis.
Methods: We recruited patients with psychosis at two national referral hospitals. A standardized demographics
questionnaire and psychiatric, physical, and laboratory assessments were conducted. Types of psychosis were diagnosed
using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory-PLUS while cognitive functioning was determined using the Mini
mental state examination (MMSE) and a neuropsychological test battery. Follow-up assessments on cognitive function and
severity of psychiatric illness were performed at 3 and 6 months. Pairwise comparison and multivariable logistic regression
analysis were used to determine the differences between the HIV positive and HIV negative individuals.
Results: There were 156 HIV positive and 322 HIV negative participants. The mean age was 33 years for the HIV positive
group and 29 years for the HIV negative group (p,0.001). The HIV positive individuals were almost three times (OR = 2.62 CI
95% 1.69–4.06) more likely to be cognitively impaired on the MMSE as well as the following cognitive tests:- WHO-UCLA
Auditory Verbal Learning Test (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.09–2.92), Verbal Fluency (OR 3.42, 95% CI 2.24–5.24), Color Trails 1 (OR 2.03,
95% CI 1.29–3.02) and Color Trails 2 (OR 3.50 95% 2.00–6.10) all p = 0.01. There was improvement in cognitive function at
follow up; however the impairment remained higher for the HIV positive group (p,0.001).
Conclusion: Cognitive impairment in psychosis was worsened by HIV infection. Care plans to minimize the effect of this
impairment should be structured for the management of individuals with HIV and psychosis.
