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Cognition, Coping, and Psychological Distress in HIV

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Abstract

Interrelationships among HIV-associated neurocognitive dysfunction, avoidant coping, cognitively-oriented coping, and psychological distress were examined using structural equation modeling in an ethnically diverse sample of 209 adults predominantly in the mid-range of illness. Global neurocognitive deficits, assessed with the HIV-dementia scale, were associated with higher levels of avoidant coping, lower levels of cognitive coping, and a higher avoidant/cognitive coping ratio, which were each in turn associated with higher psychological distress measured by a latent factor comprising symptoms of depression, anxiety, and HIV-related distressing thoughts. There were significant indirect effects through avoidant coping and a higher avoidant/cognitive coping ratio. Results suggest the presence of HIV-associated neurocognitive deficits may interfere with the utilization of cognitive-based coping strategies and increase reliance on  more maladaptive strategies, which in turn may translate to elevated reports of  psychological distress. Findings may help inform interventions aimed at reducing avoidant coping and psychological distress, two factors associated with accelerated HIV disease progression.

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Anonymized data may be shared by request from any qualified investigator for the purposes of replicating procedures and results.

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Funding

This research was graciously supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH53791 and R01MH066697, PI: Dr. Ironson). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Don Soffer Clinical Research Building, #1336, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Nikhil Banerjee

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA

    Zachary T. Goodman, Roger McIntosh & Gail Ironson

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  1. Nikhil Banerjee
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  2. Zachary T. Goodman
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  3. Roger McIntosh
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  4. Gail Ironson
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Contributions

NB: Study conceptualization; data cleaning; statistical analysis; drafting of the manuscript and tables. ZG: Statistical analyses; data interpretation; revisions for intellectual content. RM and GI Study conceptualization; data interpretation; revisions for intellectual content.

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Correspondence to Nikhil Banerjee.

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Banerjee, N., Goodman, Z.T., McIntosh, R. et al. Cognition, Coping, and Psychological Distress in HIV. AIDS Behav 26, 1074–1083 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03462-y

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