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Information processing and antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 1998

EILEEN M. MARTIN ,
DAVID L. PITRAK ,
KENNETH J. PURSELL ,
BURTON R. ANDERSEN ,
KATHLEEN M. MULLANE  and
RICHARD M. NOVAK
EILEEN M. MARTIN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA Veterans Affairs Medical Center–West Side, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
DAVID L. PITRAK
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine–Section of Infectious Disease, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA Veterans Affairs Medical Center–West Side, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
KENNETH J. PURSELL
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine–Section of Infectious Disease, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA Veterans Affairs Medical Center–West Side, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
BURTON R. ANDERSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine–Section of Infectious Disease, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA Veterans Affairs Medical Center–West Side, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
KATHLEEN M. MULLANE
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine–Section of Infectious Disease, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA Veterans Affairs Medical Center–West Side, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
RICHARD M. NOVAK
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine–Section of Infectious Disease, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA Veterans Affairs Medical Center–West Side, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Abstract

Computerized reaction time (RT) tasks are sensitive measures of subclinical HIV-related mental slowing. We previously reported that nondemented HIV-seropositive patients on antiretroviral therapy at the time of testing had faster choice RTs compared to matched untreated seropositive participants. In the present study, we evaluated the performance of 163 nondemented HIV-seropositive participants on a reaction time version of the Stroop task as a function of antiretroviral status. Persons on antiretroviral therapy at the time of testing had significantly faster reaction times than untreated individuals, although treated asymptomatic participants showed significantly less Stroop interference than treated symptomatic participants. These effects could not be attributed to differences in demographic variables, disease status, substance abuse, or psychological distress. These data indicate that central information processing is faster for patients treated with antiretroviral compounds compared to untreated patients, and suggest that reaction time tasks may have significant potential utility in clinical trials of neuroprotective compounds. (JINS, 1998, 4, 329–335.)

Keywords

HIVAIDSDementiaZidovudineReaction timesAntiretroviralNeuropsychological tests
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , July 1998 , pp. 329 - 335
Copyright
© 1998 The International Neuropsychological Society

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