SEXUAL-ACTIVITY AND RISK OF HIV-INFECTION AMONG PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Objective: This study sought to determine the frequency and types of s exual behavior among patients with schizophrenia and to assess the beh avior with respect to risk of HIV infection. Method: Ninety-five inpat ients and outpatients with a research diagnosis of schizophrenia under went a series efface-to-face interviews to determine their sexual acti vity and correlate it with demographic characteristics, psychopatholog y, and medication side effects. Results: Forty-four percent of the pat ients had been sexually active in the preceding 6 months, and 62% of t hese had had multiple partners. Sexual activity was associated with gr eater general psychopathology. Having multiple sexual partners was ass ociated with younger age, a lower level of functioning, the presence o f delusions, and more positive symptoms. Of the sexually active patien ts, 12% reported at least one partner who was HIV positive or injected drugs, or both, and 50% had exchanged sex for money or goods. Ten per cent of the patients had engaged in homosexual activity in the precedi ng 6 months and 22% during their lifetime; the frequency was similar a mong men and women. Consistent condom use was uncommon. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of schizophrenic patients had recent histories of sexual abstinence, but an almost equal number were sexually active . Sexual activity was usually accompanied by behavior related to HIV r isk. Sexual activity and having multiple partners were associated with certain measures of more severe illness. Younger patients were more l ikely to have multiple partners but were also more likely to use condo ms. There is a need for aggressive prevention strategies with this pop ulation.