A total of 100 HIV positive subjects comprising of two groups each having 50 subjects with and without substance abuse were assessed using detailed history, mental state examination, WHO schedule for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry (SCAN 2.0) and Beck's Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS). Statistical analysis used Chi-Square test, Fischer's exact test, Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, univariate and multiple regression analysis, univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. p-Value < 0.05 was considered to denote statistical significance.
Subjects with substance use disorder had higher rates of psychiatric morbidity (52% vs. 24%, 95% CI = 0.5200, p < 0.05). The rate of antiretroviral therapy default was almost double in subjects with substance abuse, as compared to subjects without substance use. Suicidal risk was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in subjects with co-morbid medical disorders but substance abuse did not increase the risk.
Substance abuse inflicts a much greater burden on HIV positive individuals as compared to subjects without substance use. Concomitant substance abuse resulted in significantly increased duration of illness and psychiatric morbidity.