HIV SEROPOSITIVITY AS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR SUICIDE IN THE GENERAL-HOSPITAL

The purpose of this study was to assess the suicide rate in people inf ected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the general hospi tal population. A retrospective study of 2,363 psychiatric consultatio ns was done in 1989 and 1990 at an urban municipal teaching hospital i n New York City. The sample included 2,363 patients admitted to adult general care from January 1, 1989, to December 31, 1990, for whom cons ultations were requested from the consultation-liaison psychiatry serv ice. Suicidal behavior was the reason for consultation in 21.8% of HIV -positive persons and in 19.8% of persons with acquired immunodeficien cy syndrome. It was the reason for consultation in only 13.9% of perso ns with unknown HIV serostatus. This difference is statistically signi ficant. The authors conclude that HIV seropositivity may be a signific ant risk factor for suicide in the general hospital patient population .