Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Socioeconomic and demographic variables (taken together) and psychological factors were analysed in two separate multivariate models by backwards elimination with P<0.05. Variables that were significant in each of the multivariate models were tested in a final multivariate model by backwards elimination

with P<0.05. Between May and September 2005, 205 HIV-positive patients were included in the study. This is equivalent to 60.1% of the 341 people invited to participate. Of those eligible for study, 73.9% (252) responded to the questionnaire and 205 filled in the BDI-II questionnaire correctly. The characteristics of participants and reasons for not responding to the questionnaire are shown in Figure 1. The out-patient clinic at the see more Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital provides care for 11% of the total HIV-infected population in Denmark. The 205 patients in this study were representative compared to the overall Danish HIV-infected population (3161 HIV-positive patients) regarding gender, age, route of infection and HIV exposure group, but were not representative regarding drug abuse – no drug abusers were included in this study [16]. The patients at risk of selleck inhibitor depression did not differ in relation to marital status. The prevalence of symptoms

of depression and diagnosed depression among the population of 205 HIV-positive patients appear in Table 1. Our study validated the results of a BDI≥20 with structured diagnostic interviews by a consultant psychiatrist. All participants with BDI scores from 14 to 19 were seen by the consultant psychiatrist

to ensure that there was no risk of depression or suicidal thoughts. Symptoms of depression, defined by a BDI>14, were seen among 77 HIV-positive patients (38%); a BDI≥20 was observed among 53 (26%) HIV-positive patients. The HDS correlated well with the BDI (Table 1). Of the 205 patients, 64 (32%) reported having had a diagnosed depression previously. Fifty-three patients (26%) met the criteria for major depression (BDI≥20) at the time of the study and 36 of these patients wished to consult the psychiatrist (Table 1). Of those consulting a psychiatrist, 13 patients were already undergoing Farnesyltransferase treatment for depression while 18 had a diagnosable, untreated depression and started treatment during the study period. Of the patients already undergoing treatment for depression, treatment was changed by the psychiatrist for six patients. Of the 17 patients who did not consult the psychiatrist, five had already consulted a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Participants were primarily male (76%) and median age was 45 years (Table 2). Among the patients at risk of depression (BDI≥20), 39 were male (25%) and 14 were female (29%). The majority of patients at risk of depression were concentrated in the 30–59 years age group (57%, Table 2).