title: Voluntary HIV testing among adults with severe mental illness: frequency and associated factors.
abstract: Adults with severe mental illness (SMI) are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This study describes the frequency and associated factors of HIV testing among psychiatric outpatients (N = 150) in a small Northeastern city. A structured clinical interview assessed demographic, psychosocial, behavioral, and psychiatric factors. In the past year, 41% of participants were HIV tested. A hierarchical linear regression model revealed the following multivariate correlates: lower educational attainment, HIV risk behavior, greater social support, homelessness, non-psychotic disorder, borderline personality disorder, and greater treatment utilization. Psychiatric factors remained significant correlates of HIV testing after accounting for psychosocial and behavioral factors. Although HIV testing occurred among a substantial proportion of participants, 45% of individuals who engaged in HIV risk behavior were not tested in the past year. Adults with SMI are in need of interventions promoting routine HIV testing and risk-reduction counseling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. christina.meade@yale.edu
authors.forename: Christina S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.forename: Kathleen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sikkema
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012720:Severity of Illness Index