HIV infection and depressive symptoms: an investigation of African American single mothers

Risk for depressive symptoms among HIV-infected African American single mot hers (n = 96), relative to demographically matched non-infected single moth ers (n = 120), was examined, using both self-report and clinician-rated sca les of depression. Assessment of depressive symptoms occurred at two points separated by one year. Findings revealed that HIV-infected mothers were at greater risk for depressive symptoms at both assessments, regardless of me thod of assessment. Moreover, HIV-infected mothers remained at greater risk when analyses were limited to cognitive and affective symptoms of depressi on, decreasing the likelihood that the difference between the two groups wa s due to greater endorsement of somatic symptoms of depression by the HIV-i nfected group.