Document 2918
 DOCN  M94A2918
 TI    HIV seroprevalence among psychiatric in-patients at the psychiatric unit
       of S. Giovanni Hospital, Rome.
 DT    9412
 AU    Di Genio M; Chiesi A; Pariante F; Falchi Delitala N; D'Aloia D; Degli
       Esposti M; Mental Health Department, USL RM4, Rome, Italy.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):195 (abstract no. PB0210). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369657
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To assess HIV seroprevalence and to identify associated
       social and psychiatric factors among psychiatric in-patients considered
       to be at risk of HIV infection. METHODS: Beginning from January 1992,
       all the in-patients in our unit who were considered to be at risk of HIV
       infection, were offered to be tested. Demographic, social and clinical
       information on those patients who accepted testing were also collected.
       RESULTS: So far we have tested the serum from 41 subjects out of 915
       patients (4.5%) who were admitted to our psychiatric unit during the
       considered period. In our sample 27/41 subjects were females (66%),
       15/41 IVDUs, 3/41 homosexuals, 6/41 sex workers, 7/41 homeless, 4/41
       living with HIV positive and 5/41 with other risk fators. Mean age was
       34.8 yrs. The large majority were single (49%), unemployed (46%) and
       with low literacy (85% < 8 yrs. of education). The most frequent
       diagnosis was schizophrenia (46%). Eleven subjects (27% of the tested
       sample, 1.2% of the overall population) were found to be HIV positive in
       different stages of the disease (5 asimptomatics, 2 ARC and 4 AIDS).
       Most of the seropositive subjects were male (9/11). IVDU's (8/11). Three
       were schizophrenics and three had antisocial personality disorders. Four
       had HIV-1 associated organic psychiatric disorders. Demographic and
       social information emphasize their characteristics, with 9/11 being
       single. 11/11 with less than 8 yrs. of education and 9/11 uneployed.
       DISCUSSION: Our study shows a high proportion of HIV disease among
       psychiatric patients. Considering that only 4 out of the 11 seropositive
       patients were admitted because of HIV-related psychiatric disorders it
       is possible to consider that a primary psychiatric disorder is itself a
       risk factor, leading to possible risk behaviours. This finding,
       supported by recent literature, confirms the hypothesis of a new
       emerging population at risk of HIV infection, namely the psychiatric
       population.
 DE    Comorbidity  Educational Status  Employment  Female  Homeless
       Persons/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Human  *HIV Seroprevalence  *Inpatients
       Male  Marriage  Prostitution/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Psychiatric
       Department, Hospital/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Risk Factors
       Rome/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Schizophrenia/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Socioeconomic Factors
       Substance Abuse, Intravenous/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

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