Features of Mental Disorders among HIV-infected Patients Admitted at Mohlomi Psychiatric Hospital in Maseru, Lesotho, from 2019 to 2020
KP Ilunga1, *, TW Ndwanya1, T Bongongo2, *
Abstract
Background:
Psychiatric issues are far more likely to affect HIV-positive individuals. A lack of awareness of this association suggests a challenging outcome. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of mental health issues among HIV-positive patients being treated at Mohlomi Psychiatric Hospital in Maseru, Lesotho.
Methods:
This was a retrospective record review of HIV-infected patients with features of mental disorders admitted at Mohlomi Psychiatric Hospital, Lesotho, from January 2019 to January 2020.
Results:
The 30 medical records examined revealed that most participants were in the age group of 19–29 years (15; 50.0%). The majority were female (21; 70.0%), had reached tertiary education (12; 40.0%), were unemployed (13; 43.3%), and were single (15; 50.0%). Among psychiatric disorders experienced, there was a high rate of depression (9; 30.0%). As comorbidities, there were high rates of hypertension (8; 26.7%) and diabetes mellitus (4; 13.3%).
Conclusion:
This study on features of mental disorders among HIV-infected patients admitted at Mohlomi Psychiatric Hospital in Maseru, Lesotho showed that the target age group was 19–29 years, with higher prevalence in females, with tertiary level of education, unemployed and single. Several psychiatric disorders were noted, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, drug-induced psychosis, mania, epilepsy with psychotic features, mood disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum depression, and schizophrenia. However, depression was found to be the main psychiatric disorder, and hypertension was the main comorbidity among HIV-infected patients admitted to the hospital.
* Address correspondence to this author at the Family Medicine & PHC/ Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa; E-mail: drpapiilunga@yahoo.fr
