Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate sexual dysfunction and the quality of life in HIV-positive patients.
Method: 70 HIV-positive patients, who applied to Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital Infectious Diseases outpatient clinic between January 2013 and January 2014 were enrolled in the study. All patients were evaluated with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) and a sociodemographic form.
Results: 47.1% (n=33) of the HIV-positive patients had at least one current psychiatric disorder and 52.9% (n=37) of them didn’t have any comorbid psychiatric disorder. In HIV-positive patients with a comorbid psychiatric disorder, there have been statistically significant higher rates in physical, psychological and social domains of WHOQOL-BREF, compared to HIV-positive patients with no comorbid psychiatric disorder (p=0.004, p=0.001, p=0.002 respectively). In HIV-positive patients with a comorbid psychiatric disorder, sexual drive and satisfaction from orgasm scores were higher than HIV-positive patients with no comorbid psychiatric disorder, and these differences were all statistically significant (p=0.005, p=0.004, p=0.006 respectively).
Conclusion: Comorbid psychiatric disorders in HIV-positive patients have a negative effect on quality of life and sexual function.