RT Journal
A1 Pao M, Lyon M, D'Angelo LJ, Schuman WB, Tipnis T, Mrazek DA
T1 PSychiatric diagnoses in adolescents seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2000
FD March 1
VO 154
IS 3
SP 240
OP 244
DO 10.1001/archpedi.154.3.240
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.154.3.240
AB Objective 
    To provide a descriptive analysis of the prevalence of past and current psychiatric disorders in adolescents positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).Design 
    Structured interview in a convenience sample in a primary care urban adolescent clinic in Washington, DC.Participants 
    Thirty-four HIV-seropositive adolescents ranging in age from 16 to 21 years.Main Outcome Measures 
    The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders–Patient Edition (SCID-P) was administered by a child psychiatrist or a clinical child psychologist. Extensive review of medical records was also conducted.Results 
    A majority of the HIV-infected adolescents in our sample had received psychiatric diagnoses prior to their treatment at the clinic (53%), had a documented history of sexual abuse (50%), and had a history of substance use (82%). Psychiatric diagnoses determined by the SCID-P indicated that 85% of the sample had a current Axis I disorder, with 44% reporting ongoing depressive disorders.Conclusions 
    The majority of subjects in this sample had had a previous psychiatric diagnosis, and almost half had a current affective disorder. Psychiatric disorders, especially affective disorders, may be a risk factor for high-risk sexual behaviors and substance use that increases the risk for HIV infection in adolescent populations.