Incidence of Suicidality in AIDS and HIV-Positive Patients Attending a Psychiatry Outpatient Program

Current suicidality was assessed in 183 patients in various stages of HIV infection. Patients with AIDS had significantly less current suicidal ideation than patients with AIDS-related complex & asymptomatic HIV positivity. The lower suicidality in AIDS patients was independent of age, gender, HIV risk group, & source of referral. Possible explanations for this include denial, refocusing of life goals in AIDS patients, & psychological changes related to central nervous system impairment.