HIV SEROPREVALENCE AMONG PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL-ILLNESS IN THE UNITED-STATES - A CRITICAL-REVIEW

The authors reviewed all studies in the peer-reviewed literature repor ting HIV seroprevalence among people with severe mental illness in the United States, which varied from 4.0% to 22.9%. Findings across sampl es suggest that seroprevalence varies with geographic concentration of HIV and presence of comorbid psychoactive substance use disorders, bu t is consistently high. Unsafe sex, drug injection, and noninjected dr ug use were associated with infection, and in most studies women were as likely to be infected as men. Seroprevalence also varied with age a nd ethnicity, but not psychiatric diagnosis. The authors review sugges tions and methodological Issues important to future studies. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.