Overview
HIV and mental health describes the bidirectional relationship between HIV infection and psychological wellbeing. People living with HIV experience elevated rates of depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and psychosocial distress, arising from the neurological effects of the virus, the burden of chronic illness, stigma, disclosure concerns, and social adversity. Conversely, mental health status influences engagement with care, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and clinical outcomes. Research in this area characterises cognitive functioning in adults aging with HIV and its subtypes and determinants, validates depression screening instruments in affected populations, and examines psychosocial factors that shape treatment adherence and serostatus disclosure. Related work addresses domestic violence among serodiscordant couples, substance use, the disclosure of HIV status to children, and the psychological dimensions of living with a long-term diagnosis. Effective care therefore integrates mental health assessment and support into HIV services, recognising that depression, stigma, and disrupted social support can undermine both quality of life and viral suppression. Theoretical frameworks for counselling and support guide interventions across clinical and community settings. As a scholarly subject, HIV and mental health connects infectious disease medicine, psychiatry, and social science, emphasising holistic, person-centred approaches that address emotional, cognitive, and behavioural needs alongside the biomedical management of infection.
Research published in this journal
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
Cognitive Functioning in Adults Aging with HIV: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Cognitive Subtypes and Influential Factors
Factors Contributing to Domestic Violence Among HIV-Discordant Couples in Kicukiro District, Rwanda
Drug Abuse among Street Children
Sport Activities as a Vehicle for HIV/ AIDS Prevention in Trinidad and Tobago: Organizer’s Perspectives
Review of Useful Theories for Working with People Who are Living with HIV and AIDS
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Healthcare Workers Towards Availability of Antiretroviral Pre-Exposure Prohylaxis in Nigeria
Health Care Providers Perception and Practice of HIV Disclosure to Sero-Positive Children and Adolescents in a Tertiary Health Facility in Abuja, Nigeria
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Disclosure of HIV Diagnosis to Infected Children Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment in Public Health Care Facilities in Gauteng, South Africa
HIV Status in Sero-Discordant Couples: Prevalence and Pattern among Pregnant Women in Plateau State, Nigeria
Relationship Between Awareness of HIV/AIDS and Attitudes of Secondary School Students to Premarital HIV Counseling and Testing in Zaria, Northern Nigeria
How this research is being cited
The 12 articles above have been cited 127 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
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2026 · Child Indicators Research
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2026 · Global Public Health
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2026 · Journal of NeuroVirology
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2026 · Discover Public Health
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2025 · Khulna University Studies
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Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): a systematic review2025 · Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services
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2025 · INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
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2025 · Khulna University Studies
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on HIV and Mental Health, linking to each citing work.