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Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, salivary cortisol, medication adherence, and CD4 levels in HIV-positive individuals

Previous research has reported rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following diagnosis with a life-threatening disease ranging from 5 to 42%. However, few studies have examined the impact of PTSD symptoms on disease markers or adherence to medical regimens. The present study represents an initial examination of the relationships among self-reported PTSD symptoms stemming from diagnosis with HIV, CD4 cell counts, salivary cortisol levels and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 110 African-American and Caucasian individuals with HIV. Results revealed that the relationship between PTSD and disease progression is multifaceted: PTSD symptoms were related to worse adherence to HAART therapy, but were also associated with lower morning salivary cortisol levels and higher CD4 cell counts.