The changing pattern of mental health problems in HIV infection: the view from London, UK

As we end the second decade with AIDS, profound changes in our understandin g of its aetiology, mechanism of disease and its treatment have led to sign ificant improvements in survival, disease progression and quality of life f or those individuals with HIV infection who are fortunate enough to have ac cess to health care and to treatments for the infection and its complicatio ns. Unsurprisingly, the psychological and social consequences of HIV have a lso seen important shifts, giving rise to new and unforeseen difficulties, as well as a greater sense of hope. Here, some of the changes seen among pe ople with HIV infection being looked after in a Central London teaching hos pital and referred to the mental health services are reviewed and discussed .