Depression and Thoughts of Suicide Among Middle-Aged and Older Persons Living With HIV-AIDS

This study examined the prevalence & characteristics of suicidal ideation among middle-aged & older persons who have HIV infection or AIDS. The authors found that 27% of subjects reported having thought about taking their own life in the previous week. Those subjects reported greater levels of emotional distress & poorer health-related quality of life than those who had not considered suicide. They were also more likely to have disclosed their HIV status to the people close to them, & yet they perceived receiving less social support from friends & family. (26 refs)