Thoughts of death and suicidal ideation in nonpsychiatric human immunodeficiency virus seropositive individuals.
The present study examines the prevalence of death thoughts and suicidality in HIV infection. Subjects (n = 246) were examined for psychiatric morbidity and suicidality. Compared to high risk HIV seronegatives, HIV seropositives (HIV +) had significantly increased frequency and severity of both suicidal ideation and death thoughts. Two-thirds of seropositives had suicidal ideation at some point; half of the seropositives reported suicide plans and one quarter suicide attempts; and third of seropositives reported current suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation did not increase with advancing disease. The high prevalence of suicidal ideation suggests inclusion of its assessment in HIV treatment regardless of stage.
Robertson
Kevin
K
AIDS Neurological Center, 3114 Bioinformatics, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7025, USA. kevinr@neurology.unc.edu
Parsons
Thomas D
TD
Van Der Horst
Charles
C
Hall
Colin
C
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D013405:Suicide; D014481:United States