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Psychiatric Patients and HIV Infection: a New Population at Risk?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Martin D. Stefan  and
José Catalán
Martin D. Stefan
Affiliation:
The Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ
José Catalán*
Affiliation:
Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School, Riverside Mental Health Trust, Psychological Medicine Unit, Mental Health Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London
*
Dr Catalán, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH
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Extract

Background

We assess the evidence that psychiatric patients are at increased risk of infection with HIV and discuss some of the clinical implications.

Method

Surveys of HIV seroprevalence and risk behaviours among psychiatric patients were obtained from a manual and computer search (Medline and AIDSline).

Results

Most studies report an increased prevalence of HIV infection among psychiatric patients compared to the general population. Risk behaviours, and obstacles to risk reduction, are identified.

Conclusions

There is a strong case for investigating the seroprevalence of HIV in psychiatric settings in the UK. Issues relating to HIV and AIDS are likely to assume increasing importance in general psychiatric practice.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 6 , December 1995 , pp. 721 - 727
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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