Traumatic stress in HIV-infected women

This study assesses the prevalence of specific traumatic stressors that mee t criterion A for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ' (DSM-IV) diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms o f PTSD in a representative sample of HIV-infected women. The study also ass esses the impact of these stressors and symptoms on the clinical progressio n of HIV infection. The Life Stressor Checklist and the Impact of Events Sc ale-Revised were administered via interview to 67 African-American women be yond the initial stages of HN infection. The ratio of CD4 t-cells to CD8 t- cells were abstracted from medical records at dates that approximated psych ological interviews and were examined at two points in time 12 to 14 months apart. The prevalence of traumatic stressors and PTSD symptoms were high a mong HIV-infected women. Traumatic stressors were significantly associated with a lower CD4 tb CD8 ratio at the 1-year follow-up. Among women who repo rted a traumatic event, those who also met criteria for PTSD evidenced a lo wer CD4 to CD8 ratio at the follow-up assessment. The study concludes that prevention and treatment efforts targeted at HIV-infected women must take i nto account traumatic stressors and PTSD symptoms and their potential impac t on the course of the disease.