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Psychosocial correlates of HIV-monoinfection and HIV/HCV-coinfection among men who have sex with men

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Abstract

Rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) appear to be high and rising. In other demographic groups, HIV/HCV-coinfection is associated with poor physical and psychological outcomes. In this study, we examined health-related and psychosocial correlates of HIV/HCV-coinfection in a clinic sample of MSM. Cross-sectional data were collected from 171 MSM. One-third of the sample was coinfected. Higher rates of depressive and PTSD symptoms were observed in coinfected patients. Coinfected men were more likely to report perfect 30-day medication adherence, but exhibited lower CD4 cell counts and more past year emergency room visits. Despite consistent engagement with care and higher rates of medication adherence, HIV/HCV-coinfected MSM exhibited significantly more mental health problems. Medical and mental health providers should be especially attentive to the mental health status of HIV/HCV-coinfected MSM, despite adequate health behaviors and physical health status.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a National Institute of Mental Health award (F31 MH71179) and a small grant from the Robert C. Bolles Research Fund of the University of Washington, both awarded to the first author. The authors wish to express sincere gratitude to the project’s research assistants at the University of Washington, as well as the staff and patients of the cooperating clinics.

Conflict of interest

No competing financial interests exist. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Suffolk University, 41 Temple Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    David W. Pantalone & Sarah M. Bankoff

  2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Danielle M. Hessler

  3. Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Brijen J. Shah

Authors
  1. David W. Pantalone
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  2. Danielle M. Hessler
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  3. Sarah M. Bankoff
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  4. Brijen J. Shah
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Correspondence to David W. Pantalone.

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Pantalone, D.W., Hessler, D.M., Bankoff, S.M. et al. Psychosocial correlates of HIV-monoinfection and HIV/HCV-coinfection among men who have sex with men. J Behav Med 35, 520–528 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9381-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9381-1

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