Psychiatric Disorders, Drug Use, and Medical Status in Injection Drug Users With HIV Disease

Abstract

The authors reviewed records of 84 HIV‐infected methadone‐ maintenance treatment (MMT) patients for psychiatric disorders, HIV disease status, and urine drug‐test results. Sixty‐six patients (79%) required psychiatric consultation (P+). Their diagnoses are presented. P+ patients and patients not requiring consultation (P−) were compared for drug abuse, HIV status, and zidovudine (AZT) treatment while in MMT. P+ patients had a higher rate of drug‐positive urine tests than P− patients, were more likely to have progressed to AIDS, and were less likely to have AZT prescribed. Among injection drug users in MMT, current psychiatric comorbidity is common and may be associated with worsened drug‐abuse treatment and HIV disease outcome. (American Journal on Addictions 1996; 5:249–258)