Psychiatric Disorders, Drug Use, and Medical Status in Injection Drug Users With HIV Disease

• NCJ Number: 164701
• Journal: American Journal on Addictions Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1996) Pages: 249-258
• Author(s): S L Batki; S J Ferrando; L Manfredi; J London; J Pattillo; K Delucchi
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

Data from the records of 84 persons in San Francisco who were receiving methadone maintenance treatment and were HIV-positive were analyzed to determine their psychiatric disorders, HIV disease status, and results of urinalyses.

Abstract

The analysis revealed that 79 percent required psychiatric consultation. Those requiring consultation had higher rates of drug-positive urine tests than did those who did not require psychiatric consultation. They were also more likely to have progressed to AIDS and less likely to have AZT prescribed. Findings indicated that mental disorders are common among injection drug users in methadone maintenance treatment and that these disorders may be associated with worsened outcomes for drug treatment and HIV disease. Tables, figures, and 32 references (Author abstract modified)