Management of HIV and depression in general practice: the Primary Health Care Project on HIV and Depression

Abstract

The Primary Health Care Project on HIV and Depression is a study that was conducted over three years to look at issues surrounding HIV and depression in Gay men. The study investigated the prevalence, nature, clinical management and self-management of depression among men, particularly homosexually active men, attending high HIV-caseload general practice clinics in Sydney, Adelaide and a rural-coastal town in New South Wales.

The study had three broad aims. The first was to describe, measure and compare depression among HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay men. The second was to describe the ways in which depression is managed by general practitioners (GPs) and gay men themselves; and the third was to develop the research capacity and skills of GPs to assess and manage depression among gay men.