Open AccessWatering flowers in the rain: The elusive nature of executive dysfunction in HIV
Author(s) -
Elizabeth Lewis,
Kathy Lawler
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of neurosciences in rural practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 0976-3147
pISSN - 0976-3155
DOI - 10.4103/0976-3147.80095
Subject(s) - apathy , neurocognitive , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , executive dysfunction , depression (economics) , cognition , psychiatry , clinical psychology , immunology , neuropsychology , economics , macroeconomics
Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) frequently experience both neurocognitive and psychiatric dysfunction. Apathy is a prominent neuropsychiatric symptom associated with HIV and is related to neurologic dysfunction. In contrast, depression is independent of neurocognitive impairment in HIV. This case report illustrates the importance of behavioral observations from family members of HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals as a valuable source of information. These behavioral observations can be particularly important in rural resource-limited settings, where cognitive testing is often limited to standardized mental status examinations.