The relationship of self-reported cognitive, motor, and affective complaints to actual neuropsychological functioning was explored in a cohort of predominantly symptomatic HIV-1 seropositive individuals. Ninety-two symptomatic HIV-1 infected subjects were questioned about complaints common in HIV infection and were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. No relationship was found between subjective complaints and cognitive functioning, yet a significant relationship was found between self-reported difficulties and formal measures of affect and mood. Failure to show a relationship between self-reported cognitive status and actual neuropsychological functioning in this cohort suggests that complaints of cognitive decline may be attributable to emotional factors.