Neurocognitive Disorders Associated with HIV in Polidrugs of psychotropic drugs

• Grant number: 11/11266-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Cognitive Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Flávia Heloísa dos Santos
• Grantee: Maria Clara Estevam Vilas Boas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil were recorded 592.914 cases of HIV infection until june 2010, since the 1980s the highest concentration is in the southeast; which represents about 58% of cases in the country. HIV invades the lymphocytes, immune cell-specific, through the CD4 receptors, causing damage to the immune system, and making the body vulnerable to contracting various opportunistic infections and tumors. The CNS becomes an easy target for virus action that can cause, among other damage, named HIV Neurocognitive Disorders Associated (HAND), which are classified as mild, moderate, and severe, and are characterized by cognitive impairment, and motor symptoms, and behavioral changes. Psychotropic drugs, such as HIV, cause deficits in attention, visual and verbal memory, language skills, reasoning and concept formation, visual-constructive skills, manual dexterity, and perceptual and motor speed. About 24,5% of the Southeastern population in Brazil, made use of psychotropic drugs at least once in their lifetime, and 80% had consumed alcohol. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the combined effects of drug use in relation to HAND. Objective: To investigate cognitive and neuropsychiatric in polydrug users with HIV infection, and HIV-infected subjects who have never used drugs through the battery HUMANS (HAND-specific assessment), so that we can establish a relationship of the combined effects of drug use and HIV on cognitive abilities. Method: The aim is to assess 60 persons of both gender, aged between 25 and 45 years, with schooling achievement equal or superior to 4 years in the Outpatient Speciality in Ourinhos. The sample will have the same sociodemographic characteristics but is divided into three groups: 20 controls, 20 people infected with HIV that not used drugs at any time of life, and 20 drug users with HIV infection.(AU)