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.)