Background: Depression represents a significant issue among individuals diagnosed with HIV. A study

conducted in Africa revealed that the prevalence of depression in this patient population may reach

63.1%. In Mexico, however, there is no existing literature on this matter. Antiretroviral therapy (ARV)

is a vital component of treatment for individuals with HIV/AIDS. However, the efficacy of ARV may

inclusion and exclusion criteria, with a confidence level of 99% and a confidence limit of 3.8%.

Discussion: The lack of adherence to treatment in patients with HIV/AIDS was found to be directly

proportional to the presence and severity of depression. Depression was identified in 81.17% of the total

sample. 62.79% exhibited mild depression, 16.27% demonstrated moderate depression, and 20.93%

displayed severe depression. In patients with poor adherence to treatment, severe depression was found

in 91.37%. Additionally, comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension were observed with a higher

frequency than reported in literature. Conclusion: We recommend establishing a systematic and

individual psychological evaluation of HIV/AIDS patients and initiating measures for the early

detection of depression. This approach will help to prevent a possible interruption or abandonment of

Antecedentes: La depresión es un factor clave entre individuos con VIH. Un estudio realizado en África

mostró que la prevalencia de depresión en estos pacientes puede ser de hasta 63,1%. En México, sin

embargo, no existe referencia respecto a este tema. El tratamiento antirretroviral (TAR) es indispensable

en pacientes con infección por VIH/SIDA, y su fracaso puede deberse a la falta de adherencia a éste.

La pobre adherencia puede deberse a variables psicológicas como la depresión. Objetivo: Determinar

tratamiento en pacientes con VIH/SIDA fue directamente proporcional a la presencia de depresión y a

la severidad de la misma. La depresión se encontró en el 81.17% de la muestra total. De estos, el 62.79%

tenía depresión leve, 16.27% depresión moderada y 20.93% depresión severa. En pacientes con poca

adherencia al tratamiento, la depresión severa se encontró en el 91.37%. Además, comorbilidades como

diabetes e hipertensión arterial se encontraron con una frecuencia mayor a la reportada en la

bibliografía. Conclusión: Recomendamos establecer de manera sistemática e individual la evaluación

psicológica de los pacientes con VIH/SIDA e iniciar medidas para la detección temprana de depresión,

con el fin de prevenir una posible interrupción o abandono del tratamiento antirretroviral y por ende el

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), first isolated in 1983, is a retrovirus that causes the

destruction of the immune system through its tropism for macrophages and for CD4+ T lymphocytes.

The virus is transmitted through the body fluids of infected individuals, including blood, breast milk,

semen, and vaginal secretions. Additionally, it can be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy and

childbirth. It is not transmitted by contact such as kissing, hugging, or handshaking, nor by sharing

efficacy of ARV in suppressing the viral load depends on the patient's strict adherence to the treatment

regimen, which requires a high level of commitment. Previous research has demonstrated that good

adherence to ARV is associated with a reduced likelihood of depressive behaviors and the absence of

HIV infection continues to represent a significant global public health concern. According to the WHO,

approximately 1.3 million individuals acquired HIV in 2022, resulting in an estimated 39 million people

living with the disease by the end of that year. Additionally, an estimated 360,000 deaths were attributed

In 1981, several cases of pneumonia and Kaposi's sarcoma were diagnosed simultaneously in the United

States. The following year, these diagnoses were defined as AIDS and were predominantly among

total of 375,296 confirmed cases have been registered nationwide. Of these cases, 82%, or 307,770

cases, were identified in men, while 18%, or 67,526 cases, were identified in women. In the course of

2023, 17,739 new cases were documented nationwide, with an incidence rate of 13.5 per 100,000

An epidemic caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been reported in the Mexican

state of Veracruz. According to the latest report issued by the Ministry of Health, a total of 34,628 cases

have been reported from 1983 to the first quarter of 2024, representing 9.2% of the total cases reported

the country has provided free antiretroviral therapy to all people living with HIV through a network of

outpatient centers. These include Centers for the Prevention and Care of HIV/AIDS and Sexually

Transmitted Infections (CAPASITS), the network of Comprehensive Care Services (SAIH) clinics for

Depression represents a significant public health concern in numerous countries, affecting millions of

individuals globally. It is estimated that millions of people worldwide suffer from depression. The

treatment of depressed patients typically involves the use of antidepressant drugs, psychological

2022, 9.2% of the population had a depressive disorder in their lifetime, while 4.8% had experienced

Common comorbidities in patients with HIV include pneumonia, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, and

Kaposi's sarcoma, which are collectively referred to as opportunistic diseases. Other important

comorbidities are hypertension and diabetes, which can significantly impact the health status of

In their 2020 documentary research, Morey Gabriel and Zambrano Rosario identified several

opportunistic infections prevalent in Latin America, including cerebral toxoplasmosis, mucocutaneous

Depression is a significant concern among individuals with HIV. Therefore, it is essential to assess the

Depression is a risk factor for HIV infection and impairs adherence to medical treatment and safe sex

practices that prevent further transmission of the virus. There is evidence that supports the efficacy of a

Waldron et al, 2021 mention that the symptomatology of depression and anxiety increases to a greater

extent the physical and mental health problems of patients living with HIV; which decreases the level

of quality of life and prevents them from continuing with treatments, potentially due to a lack of

is used worldwide in clinical and research assessments of depressive symptoms and severity of

Zung developed a method for scoring both depression and anxiety that involved conversion of a total

scale raw score (with a potentail range of 20 to 80) to a index score with a potential range of 25 to 100.

The index score is derived by dividing the sum of the values (raw scores) obtained on the 20 items by

mention the scoring criteria established in the scale: (<50 without depression, 50-59 with mild

The subjects of this study were 977 individuals who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned

below. The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale was used to assess the presence and severity of

depression in these subjects. This scale has been validated in different countries and languages and is

Based on the sample size provided by CENSIDA 2023 and the expected frequency of the phenomenon

Additionally, a brief identification survey was conducted to gather information regarding the patient's

age, sex, and place of residence. This was also done to determine whether the patient was adhering to

antiretroviral treatment, the duration of which was also documented. Furthermore, the survey inquired

It is noteworthy that not all patients who were on the seropositive lists attended the epidemiology

department or the outpatient clinic. In addition, some patients declined to participate in the survey for

In accordance with the standards set forth by the institution's ethics committee, the surveys were applied

individually and anonymously in a setting that was both comfortable and private, with optimal lighting

All 977 patients surveyed met the inclusion criteria and are the subject of this study. The 126 patients

who did not agree to participate in the study and were therefore excluded provided various reasons for

their decision, including social stigma and concerns about feeling safe to be interviewed about their

Of the 126 patients excluded from the study, 47 (37.30%) reported engaging in unprotected sexual

intercourse with multiple partners without revealing their HIV-positive status. Among the 977 patients

included in the study, 267 (27.33%) had sexual intercourse with one or multiple partners without

informing them of their HIV-positive status, primarily due to concerns about rejection or a lack of

The mean age of the 977 patients who participated in this study was 44 years (with an age range of 18-

65 years). Of the total sample, 329 were female (33.7%), while 66.3% of the sample were male, with

city of Veracruz (Mexican state of Veracruz). Of the remaining patients, 298 (37.58%) resided in the

The largest proportion of patients with depression resided in the municipality of Veracruz. However,

the majority of these patients exhibited only mild depression, representing 79.54% of the total.

Meanwhile, the Boca del Río municipality had the highest percentage of severely depressed patients,

Regarding antiretroviral treatment, 780 of the total number of patients surveyed (79.84%) were

currently taking ARV. Of these, 120 patients (15.38%) dropped out at some point and resumed treatment

within 2 months of stopping, while the rest showed adequate adherence from the start. In contrast, 197