Document 0340
 DOCN  M9650340
 TI    Interest in physician-assisted suicide among ambulatory HIV-infected
       patients.
 DT    9605
 AU    Breitbart W; Rosenfeld BD; Passik SD; Department of Neurology, Memorial
       Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center,; New York, NY 10021, USA.
 SO    Am J Psychiatry. 1996 Feb;153(2):238-42. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96155936
 AB    OBJECTIVE: This study surveyed HIV-infected patients' attitudes toward
       physician-assisted suicide and examined the relationship between
       interest in physician-assisted suicide and physical and psychosocial
       variables. METHOD: Three hundred seventy-eight ambulatory HIV-infected
       patients, 90% of whom met the criteria of the Centers for Disease
       Control for AIDS, were recruited from several sites in New York City.
       Self-report measures were used to assess pain, physical symptoms,
       psychological distress, depression, and social supports. Attitudes
       toward, and interest in, physician-assisted suicide were assessed
       through responses to a questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of
       the patients supported policies favoring physician-assisted suicide, and
       55% acknowledged considering physician-assisted suicide as an option for
       themselves. The strongest predictors of interest in physician-assisted
       suicide were high scores on measures of psychological distress
       (depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, overall psychological
       distress) and experience with terminal illness in a family member or
       friend. Other strong predictors were Caucasian race, infrequent or no
       attendance at religious services, and perceived low level of social
       supports. Interest in physician-assisted suicide was not related to
       severity of pain, pain-related functional impairment, physical symptoms,
       or extent of HIV disease. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected patients supported
       policies favoring physician-assisted suicide at rates comparable to
       those in the general public. Patients' interest in physician-assisted
       suicide appeared to be more a function of psychological distress and
       social factors than physical factors. These findings highlight the
       importance of psychiatric and psychosocial assessment and intervention
       in the care of patients who express interest in or request
       physician-assisted suicide.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY  Adolescence
       Adult  Aged  *Ambulatory Care  *Attitude to Health  Critical Illness
       Depressive Disorder/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY  Male  Middle Age
       Pain/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY  Palliative Care  Probability
       Questionnaires  Risk Factors  Severity of Illness Index  Social Support
       Stress, Psychological/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY  Suicide/PSYCHOLOGY
       *Suicide, Assisted/LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD/PSYCHOLOGY  Support, Non-U.S.
       Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).