Psychosomatics 1994; 35:59-65
Copyright © 1994 by Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH REPORTS |
Characteristics of HIV-infected patients in an inpatient psychiatric setting
PK Wiener, MA Schwartz and RA O'Connell
Department of Psychiatry, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Westchester Division.
Psychiatric admissions of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) over a 5-year period (1986-1991) are reviewed. Ninety-one
patients were studied. Suicidal thoughts/attempt was the most common reason
for hospital admission. The two most common diagnostic categories were 1)
organic mental syndrome, and 2) substance abuse/dependence. Forty-five
percent of the patients either initiated their discharges or drastically
improved without the use of psychotropic medications. The authors suggest
that outpatient psychiatric facilities can provide psychiatric care for
HIV-infected patients seeking it.
