SUICIDE AND HIV DISEASE

It has been suggested that HIV infection is associated with an increas ed risk of suicidal behaviour. This paper reviews the literature on su icide in patients with HIV disease and discusses methodological proble ms encountered in studying the incidence of suicide in this population . A snowballing method was used to identify cases of suicide in patien ts who were receiving treatment for HIV disease in a central London he alth district. The possible under detection of suicides among AIDS pat ients is considered. The six case reports are described to illustrate the clinical and psychosocial characteristics of suicides, and they ar e discussed in relation to other findings on suicide in patients with HIV disease and other physical illnesses.