This study assessed the prevalence and nature of thoughts and future plans
to end one's life in a group of gay men with HIV/AIDS over an 18-month peri
od . HHIV-positive men (n = 167) participated in a series of clinical inter
views which measured current health status, current and past psychiatric di
sorders, current levels of distress, and thoughts and plans about ending th
eir fives currently or at some future point. A small number of HIV-positive
men (17% reported serious thoughts or plans to end their lives at some poi
nt in the future: which were stable over an 18-month period No differences
in psychiatric or medical measures were observed among men with and without
thoughts/plans at either assessment point In the absence of current psychi
atric disorders, such thoughts or plans about the future may represent one
way to maintain control and independence in the face of the uncertainty of
life with HIV illness.