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Background: Common mental disorders, especially depression, are likely to increase as a result of globalization and industrialization and it is likely that the resultant burden of care will increase proportionately. Women have a higher prevalence of depression and also carry the burden of caring for the affected individuals. Aim: To study the psychological symptoms with possible common mental disorders in a primary care setting. Methods: One hundred two women of Tamil ethnicity were approached to take part in answering the Self­Report Questionnaire (SRQ). The mean age of cases and non-cases were 39 years and 33 years, respectively. Results: Nearly three-fifths scored above the cut-off point. Age, physical illness and chronic pain were found to be important factors in the genesis of depression in particular. Conclusion: These findings have major implications for any preventative or intervention strategies.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the prevalence, impact, and risk factors for pain among a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults treated with combination antiretroviral therapy if indicated according to current guidelines. METHODS This was a cross-sectional epidemiological observational study. All patients attending 1 HIV-outpatient center in the United Kingdom in a 10-month period were eligible. Patients completed a validated questionnaire enquiring about demographics, HIV factors, and symptoms of pain. RESULTS Of 1050 eligible participants, 859 (82%) completed a questionnaire. The 1-month period prevalence of pain lasting >1 day was 62.8% among whom 63% reported current pain. The prevalence of pain at most anatomic sites was broadly similar to that observed in population studies using the same questionnaires except that we found considerably higher rates of foot/ankle pain. The median duration of pain was 3 years (range, 0 to 51 y) and the median pain score was 5.0 on an 11-point visual analogue score. Over 40% of people in pain had consulted their primary care physician and >20% were taking analgesics daily. Independent risk factors for current pain were older age (P=0.001), time since diagnosis of HIV infection (P=0.001), and receipt of a protease inhibitor-based regimen (P=0.04). DISCUSSION Pain, and notably foot/ankle pain, is common among adults living with prevalent HIV and is associated with substantial morbidity and health care utilization.