Mental Health Burden High Among PWH in Panama

TOPLINEAmong people living with HIV (PWH) receiving care at two urban HIV clinics in Panama, 16.1% reported moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms and 20.4% had high levels of anxiety. Discrimination, chronic pain, and difficulty performing daily activities were associated with both conditions.METHODOLOGYResearchers conducted a cross-sectional study to measure depression and anxiety symptoms and to identify their psychosocial and functional correlates among PWH.The study included 317 adults living with HIV (mean age, 38 years; 50.8% men) from two large urban antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics in Panama who were enrolled between May and October 2024.Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, with scores ≥ 10 indicating moderate-to-severe symptoms.Anxiety was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 scale, with scores ≥ 3 indicating high levels of anxiety.Data were also gathered on variables such as sociodemographic factors, HIV-related factors, partner violence, discrimination, chronic pain, life satisfaction, and difficulty with daily activities.TAKEAWAYAbout 1 in 6 participants (16.1%) reported moderate-to-severe depression, and roughly 1 in 5 (20.4%) had high levels of anxiety.After adjustment for potential confounders, moderate-to-severe depression was more common among younger participants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.89 per year older; 95% CI, 0.81-0.98) and those who reported recent drug use (aOR, 7.77; 95% CI, 1.28-46.98). Discrimination (aOR, 5.86; 95% CI, 1.33-25.79), chronic pain (aOR, 15.20; 95% CI, 2.44-94.37), and difficulty with daily activities (aOR, 51.41; 95% CI, 4.98-530.61) were also linked to depression.High levels of anxiety were linked to insufficient day-to-day resources (aOR, 5.02; 95% CI, 1.60-15.77), and varied across treatment sites, with attendance at one ART clinic associated with lower odds (aOR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.82). Discrimination (aOR, 5.84; 95% CI, 1.86-18.29), chronic pain (aOR, 8.80; 95% CI, 1.92-40.39), and difficulty with daily activities (aOR, 14.48; 95% CI, 1.79-116.92) were also linked to anxiety.Greater life satisfaction was associated with lower odds of high levels of anxiety (aOR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58-0.92).IN PRACTICE"Our findings suggest that PLHIV [people living with HIV] who attend HIV care services in Panama would benefit from the increased integration of mental health screening and social support services using multidisciplinary teams or more coordinated multi-facility integration," the authors wrote.SOURCEThe study was led by Amanda Gabster, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. It was published online on August 05, 2026, in AIDS Care.LIMITATIONSBecause of its cross-sectional design, the study could not establish causal links between risk factors and mental health symptoms. Data came from only two urban ART clinics, limiting generalizability to rural or Indigenous populations in Panama. Moreover, residence data were not collected; because stigma or work commitments may have led some participants to seek care away from home, the influence of residence on discrimination or anxiety could not be assessed.DISCLOSURESThe study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The authors reported no relevant conflicts of interest.This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.