Attention and concentration functions in HIV-positive adolescents who are on anti-retroviral treatment

Abstract

It is generally agreed that patients either in the symptomatic stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or those in whom acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has already developed exhibit cognitive deficits. Specifically, attentional functioning has been investigated and found to be lowered in HIV-positive individuals compared to HIV-negative individuals. Medication regimen may also potentially confound the neuropsychological functioning. The intention of this study was to examine focused and divided attention in 30 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 years living with HIV who were commenced on managed anti-retroviral (ARV) programmes following diagnosis of HIV and immune compromise and compared to a contrast group of 71 HIV-negative adolescents. The results show that the mean number of errors on the Trail Making Test (TMT) Part B, as well as the mean time taken on Trials 1 and 3; the mean number of uncorrected errors on Trials 1 and 3; and the mean number of self-corrected errors on Trials 1, 2, and 3 of the Stroop Colour-Word Interference Test were significantly ( p < .05) higher in HIV-positive individuals compared to HIV-negative individuals.