Untreated patients for H.I.V can present various types of neuropsychiatric syndromes (NPS): subclinical cognitive symptoms, behavioral changes, agitation, personality changes, dementia complex associated with H.I.V and delirium, depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder or manic episode. However, it is controversial whether antiretroviral induce NPS, or on the contrary, when there are patients will evolve into an AIDS stage for therapeutic resistance or noncompliance.

Describe qualitatively and quantify the epidemiological point of the main subclinical and NPS symptoms in patients untreated and treated with antiretroviral drugs and their frequencies. Propose pharmacological treatments for each of the specified conditions.

Search in PubMed with the words “Neuropsychiatric and antiretroviral therapy” by applying the limits: full and free texts, past 10 years, Human, English language and adults; research liaison psychiatry textbooks.

Results yielded 381 articles with the criteria selecting 102, the most relevant for the purposes of work. They chose four most relevant chapters in the literature.

The most effective treatment of NPS in unmedicated patients is to start antiretroviral therapy; only if it does not improve them should be introduced psychiatric drugs as if they were functional. 50% of treated with efavirenz patients will develop NPS in the early days with gradual decrease. The dropout rate associated with these adverse events varies from 2.6–16%. Treatment of these NPS a challenge by the existence of numerous drug interactions, it is essential to know to deal with these entities to improve the quality of life of people with this chronic disease.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.