Efavirenz and chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms: a cross-sectional case control study.

Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 100897392 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1464-2662 (Print) Linking ISSN: 14642662 NLM ISO Abbreviation: HIV Med Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Oxford : Wiley
Original Publication: Oxford : Blackwell Science, c1999-

Behavioral Symptoms/*epidemiology ; HIV Infections/*epidemiology ; Mental Disorders/*epidemiology; Adult ; Alkynes ; Australia/epidemiology ; Behavioral Symptoms/chemically induced ; Benzoxazines/adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cyclopropanes ; Dreams ; Female ; HIV Infections/drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders/chemically induced ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prevalence ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/adverse effects ; Self Disclosure ; Stress, Psychological/chemically induced ; Stress, Psychological/epidemiology

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate symptoms of long-term central nervous system (CNS) toxicity in HIV-positive patients treated with efavirenz (EFV).
Methods: We carried out a single-centre, cross-sectional case-control study comparing patients treated with EFV for at least 6 months with a matched control group. Self-administered, standardized questionnaires including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and a questionnaire on unusual dreams, insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, depersonalization and derealization were administered.
Results: Data for 32 matched pairs were analysed. Significantly higher total stress scores (P=0.008) were found in the EFV group. Of the patients in this group, 19% also reported severe to extremely severe levels of stress (P=0.014), indicating increased difficulty in relaxing, and being more irritable, impatient, agitated and easily upset. Nineteen per cent of patients treated with EFV also reported severe levels of anxiety (P=0.059) as assessed with the DASS scale. This patient group also reported a higher rate of unusual dreams (P=0.049). No significant differences between groups were found for measures of cognitive impairments, fatigue, dizziness, derealization or depersonalization.
Conclusion: EFV-treated patients reported higher levels of severe stress and anxiety as well as a higher rate of unusual dreams than patients not treated with EFV. These differences may be an expression of persisting CNS side effects in patients who remain on EFV for a prolonged period.

0 (Alkynes)
0 (Benzoxazines)
0 (Cyclopropanes)
0 (Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors)
JE6H2O27P8 (efavirenz)

Date Created: 20061116 Date Completed: 20070927 Latest Revision: 20220330

20250114

10.1111/j.1468-1293.2006.00419.x

17105514