A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF THE NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONSEQUENCES OF HIV-1 INFECTION IN GAY MEN .1. NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE AND NEUROLOGICALSTATUS AT BASE-LINE AND AT 12-MONTH FOLLOW-UP

The aim of this study was to determine whether HIV infection is associ ated with neurological or neuropsychological impairment in the asympto matic and early symptomatic stages of disease. Subjects included 61 ga y men (41 HIV-, 20 HIV+) who were assessed at the time of requesting t heir first HIV test and again 12 months later. The assessments at base line were conducted double-blind to HIV serostatus. Measures included a neuropsychological battery, neurological examination and full psychi atric assessment. There were no differences between the asymptomatic H IV+ and HIV- groups at baseline or at follow-up in terms of mean score s on neuropsychological tests. Mean scores were within the normal rang e for all neuropsychological tests for both groups. Multiple regressio n analysis was used to predict each individual's performance at follow -up on the basis of their baseline performance, psychiatric state, neu rological history and drug use for each of the neuropsychological test s. HIV+ subjects were more likely than control subjects to perform at a significantly lower level at follow-up on one or more tests than pre dicted on the basis of their baseline performance.