title: Suicide and HIV disease.
abstract: It has been suggested that HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour. This paper reviews the literature on suicide in patients with HIV disease and discusses methodological problems encountered in studying the incidence of suicide in this population. A snowballing method was used to identify cases of suicide in patients who were receiving treatment for HIV disease in a central London health district. The possible under detection of suicides among AIDS patients is considered. The six case reports are described to illustrate the clinical and psychosocial characteristics of suicides, and they are discussed in relation to other findings on suicide in patients with HIV disease and other physical illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catalan
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention