Mental health and psychosocial support

Clinical description

• One quarter of patients starting ART have some degree of depression.
• Depression affects ART adherence and retention.
• Mild and moderate depression can effectively be managed with counselling and support

interventions; severe depression usually requires medication.

• Screen all PLHIV with poor adherence and retention challenges for depression.
• D T G may cause insomnia, headache and other neuropsychiatric side effects.