TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological distress in HIV-1 disease in relationship to hypocholesterolemia
AU - Shor-Posner, Gail
AU - Baldewicz, Teri
AU - Feaster, Dan
AU - Blaney, Nancy T.
AU - Miguez-Burbano, Maria
AU - Szapocznik, Jose
AU - Goodkin, Karl
AU - Eisdorfer, Carl
AU - Baum, Marianna K.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Objective: Altered levels of serum cholesterol, which are prevalent in early HIV-1 infection, have been associated with disturbances in mood state and behavior. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of serum cholesterol status and psychological distress in HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative men. Method: The association between serum cholesterol level and psychological distress, measured with the Profile of Mood States (POMS), was examined in 169 individuals (117 HIV-1 seropositive and 52 seronegative homosexual men), controlling for negative life events, social support, coping style, and HIV-1 serostatus. Results: Individuals with hypocholesterolemia (serum cholesterol levels < 150 mg/dL), exhibited significantly higher levels of distress, relative to individuals with values of cholesterol > 150 mg/dL (p = 0.01). HIV-1 seropositive men had significantly lower cholesterol levels (p = 0.0001) and higher levels of distress than the seronegative men (p = 0.03). A significant interaction between negative life events and cholesterol status was demonstrated as well (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Hypocholesterolemia appears to be associated with increased psychological distress. Whereas the causal direction of the cholesterol-distress association cannot be specified, our results suggest that HIV-1 infected men with low cholesterol levels may benefit from being monitored for changes in distress level, so that appropriate psychosocial intervention can be instituted, as necessary.
AB - Objective: Altered levels of serum cholesterol, which are prevalent in early HIV-1 infection, have been associated with disturbances in mood state and behavior. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of serum cholesterol status and psychological distress in HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative men. Method: The association between serum cholesterol level and psychological distress, measured with the Profile of Mood States (POMS), was examined in 169 individuals (117 HIV-1 seropositive and 52 seronegative homosexual men), controlling for negative life events, social support, coping style, and HIV-1 serostatus. Results: Individuals with hypocholesterolemia (serum cholesterol levels < 150 mg/dL), exhibited significantly higher levels of distress, relative to individuals with values of cholesterol > 150 mg/dL (p = 0.01). HIV-1 seropositive men had significantly lower cholesterol levels (p = 0.0001) and higher levels of distress than the seronegative men (p = 0.03). A significant interaction between negative life events and cholesterol status was demonstrated as well (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Hypocholesterolemia appears to be associated with increased psychological distress. Whereas the causal direction of the cholesterol-distress association cannot be specified, our results suggest that HIV-1 infected men with low cholesterol levels may benefit from being monitored for changes in distress level, so that appropriate psychosocial intervention can be instituted, as necessary.
KW - HIV
KW - Hypocholesterolemia
KW - Psychological distress
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U2 - 10.2190/95F4-HWVJ-4C3C-XUDK
DO - 10.2190/95F4-HWVJ-4C3C-XUDK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9565721
AN - SCOPUS:1842301082
VL - 27
SP - 159
EP - 171
JO - International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
JF - International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
SN - 0091-2174
IS - 2
ER -