Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in a Mandatory Screening Program for Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Ninety-five randomly selected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive Air Force personnel were psychiatrically examined during a routine medical evaluation. Of the 95, 95% did not have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and were largely asymptomatic; 61.1% had clinical axis I diagnoses, which included simple phobia, adjustment disorders, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, alcohol use disorder, major depression, and organic mental disorders; 30.5% had personality disorders. Significantly higher frequencies (p less than 0.05) of simple phobia and hypoactive sexual desire disorder were noted with knowledge of HIV seropositivity. Disorders that occurred more commonly than in age-matched Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) participants included: simple phobia, antisocial personality disorder, alcohol abuse, and organic mental disorders. The high prevalence of major psychiatric illness in this sample supports the notion that screening for psychiatric illness, and counseling where indicated, should be integral to HIV screening programs.