QUALITY-OF-LIFE ASSESSMENT IN HIV-INFECTED PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENTS - PERCEIVED HEALTH, FUNCTIONAL STATUS, SYMPTOMS, AND PREFERENCES FOR CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION

The current study had two purposes: (1) to describe the reliability an d validity of a measure of quality of life (QOL) in HIV-infected psych iatric outpatients, and (2) to predict cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR) preferences from disease stage, depression, and other QOL factors . We studied 63 patients, who were seen in one year at an HIV/AIDS psy chiatry clinic. The results provide evidence for the validity of our i nstrument as a measure of health status in an HIV-infected psychiatric population. Overall symptoms were the strongest associates of functio nal limitations, disability, and perceived health, but depression was also significantly associated with all measures of QOL. Twenty-two pat ients (35.5%) would not have wanted to be revived if their heart stopp ed beating the day of the study. Disease stage and poor mental health were independent predictors of this preference, but severity of depres sion, social support, fatigue, perceived health, functional limitation s, and life satisfaction were not.