Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty? Treatment of Depression and HIV/AIDS Medication Adherence: a Comment on Sin and DiMatteo

Excerpt

In 2000, DiMatteo and colleagues published a major meta-analysis of 30 years of observational research relating to depression and treatment adherence in various chronic illnesses; 12 studies were identified and none focused on HIV/AIDS [1]. Just twelve years later, a meta-analysis limited to treatment adherence in HIV/AIDS collected 95 studies [2]. The new meta-analysis by Sin and DiMatteo [3] reflects the current state of the science in this rapidly growing literature and makes a timely contribution to future progress. Analyses test whether treatment of depression in individuals with HIV/AIDS would result in improved antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. The analysis includes 29 observational studies and intervention trials that vary considerably in their measurement and treatment methods. Although a significant relationship between depression treatment and better ART adherence was found overall, the effect was quite variable. Thus, comprehensive moderator analyses provide an important guide to evaluating the evidence. …