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American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). HIV & AIDS. // American Psychiatric Association //. Retrieved August 14, 2012, from http://healthyminds.org/Main-Topic/HIV-AIDS.aspx

Facts: 1.Mental health problems can strike anybody, but people with HIV are more likely to experience a range of mental health issues. 2.Most common are feelings of acute emotional distress, depression, and anxiety, which can often accompany adverse life-events. 3.HIV can directly infect the brain, causing impairment to memory and thinking. 4.Depression is characterized by the presence of most or all of the following symptoms: low mood, apathy, fatigue, inability to concentrate, loss of pleasure in activities, changes in appetite and weight, trouble sleeping, low self-worth, and, possibly, thoughts of suicide. 5.Anxiety is a feeling of panic or apprehension, which is often accompanied by the physical symptoms of sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heart beat, agitation, nervousness, headaches, and panic. 6.Substance use is very common among those with HIV infection. 7.Substance use can increase levels of distress, interfere with treatment adherence, and lead to impairment in thinking and memory. 8.HIV-1-associated dementia complex, delirium, and psychosis. Signs of trouble may include forgetfulness, confusion, attention deficits, slurred or changed speech, sudden changes in mood or behavior, difficulty walking, muscle weakness, slowed thinking, and difficulty finding words. 9.HIV infection and AIDS affect all aspects of a person’s life. 10.New anti-HIV therapies in combination with psychiatric medication can reverse delirium and dementia and markedly improve cognition 11.Psychotherapy also can help patients understand their condition and adapt to their diminished level of functioning. 12.Support from family and friends can be very helpful at these times, as can professional help. 13.As of 2000, children 15 and younger comprised 20 percent of the total number of world deaths resulting from AIDS. 14.HIV positive children also confront the possibility of short-term memory loss, decreased intellectual levels, attention deficits, language disorders, spatial ability problems, deficiencies in behavioral and social performance, and moderate to severe mental retardation as a result of the virus. 15.Children infected through perinatal transmission face the risk of abnormal brain development and high rates of morbidity and mortality.