PARANOID PSYCHOSIS IN HIV-INFECTION

All parts of the central nervous system may be involved in HIV infecti on, resulting in a variety of neuropsychiatric syndromes some of which resemble functional psychoses. Corresponding to the HIV-associated di sease these syndromes differ in course and severity. A very common for m is the AIDS-dementia complex, especially late in the course of disea se. Up to now, however, a specific therapy is not available. A case of severe psychosis with paranoid delusions and hallucinations in a pati ent with otherwise asymptomatic HIV infection is reported. From her bi ography it was concluded that the infection occurred 10 years earlier. During therapy with azidothymidine, symptoms disappeared within 3 mon ths, and more than one year after admission to our hospital the patien t was still able to work. According to the course of the disease in th is patient, reports from the literature and pathogenetic theories, an early therapy with antiviral agents is recommended in HIV-induced suba cute encephalitis.