The delusion of infection with HIV.
OBJECTIVE
This article briefly describes the consultation-liaison service of the HIV/AIDS service of the Royal North Shore Hospital, and reviews three men who had the delusional belief of being infected with HIV.


METHODS
Twenty-three consecutive referrals from the HIV/AIDS unit to consultation-liaison psychiatry were reviewed. Three of these patients persistently believed that they were infected with HIV despite low risk factors and negative blood tests.


RESULTS
These three men had a major depression. Two of the three patients were offered treatment with psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. The third declined psychiatric follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The presentation of a patient for HIV testing, with an atypical history, should raise the interviewer's concern that there may be an underlying mental illness, in particular a depressive disorder.
Department of Academic Psychiatry, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
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Nash
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012803:Sick Role