Detection of Symptoms Related to Anxiety, Depression, and Stress in Patients with HIV using the DASS-21 SCALE

Abstract

Objective: To Detect symptoms related to anxiety, depression and stress in patients with HIV using the DASS-21 scale. Methods: Cross-sectional study in patients with HIV who came to receive care at Family Medicine Unit N0 16, applying the DASS-21 scale to detect depression, anxiety, and stress. From the census of 66 patients, five patients were excluded for not agreeing to participate and two for being minors, leaving 59 patients. Descriptive statistics were obtained using the statistical program SPSS v22. Results: The predominant age was 40.13 ± 13.125 years, male sex, and high school level. 71.2% presented stress, 64.4% anxiety, and 35% depression. Such disorders were more frequent in women (83.3% stress and anxiety, and 50% depression). Regarding the symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, the most observed were "I felt sad and depressed", "I was worried about situations in which I could panic or in which I could make a fool of myself" and "I had a hard time relaxing", appearing in 62.71%, 69.49 % and 91.53 % respectively. Conclusions: The frequency of depression, anxiety and stress was high in both sexes. These disorders should be taken into account at primary care..