title: Characteristics of HIV-positive chronically mentally ill inpatients.
abstract: The growing population of chronically mentally ill persons who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS has not yet been adequately studied. We describe the entire population of known HIV-positive inpatients in a state psychiatric center in New York City. In this sample, the typical patient with known HIV infection is as likely to be a man as a woman and is a member of an ethnic minority group. HIV-positive patients had multiple risks for HIV infection including injecting drug use (IDU), sex with IDU partners, prostitution and male homosexual activity. Most patients were at a late stage of HIV-infection, typically with CD4+ cell counts of 400. Discharge plans were complicated by HIV illness and most HIV-positive patients had a longer length of hospital stay than non HIV-positive patients. We discuss the need to plan for the management of increasing numbers of HIV-positive patients in inpatient, outpatient, and residential facilities.
authors.affiliation: Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Empfield
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cournos
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006783:Hospitals, State; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*