Suicide and HIV disease

Abstract

It has been suggested that HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour. This paper reviews the literature on suicide in patients with HIV disease and discusses methodological problems encountered in studying the incidence of suicide in this population. A snowballing method was used to identify cases of suicide in patients who were receiving treatment for HIV disease in a central London health district. The possible under detection of suicides among AIDS patients is considered. The six case reports are described to illustrate the clinical and psychosocial characteristics of suicides, and they are discussed in relation to other findings on suicide in patients with HIV disease and other physical illnesses.

Suicide mortality among people accessing highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS in British Columbia: a retrospective analysis

“…First, as the HAART era progressed, treatment regimens became simpler, more effective, less toxic and better tolerated, 18,23 thereby reducing treatment burden and impact on quality of life. Second, HIV was initially characterized as a terminal illness, and therefore inherently associated with an elevated risk of suicide, 18,24 but HAART transformed HIV into a chronic manageable condition. 9,23 Third, public perception of HIV has evolved over time, leading to greater social acceptance of people living with HIV/AIDS and potentially contributing to reduced suicide rates in this population.…”

The prevalence of suicidal behaviours in a group of HIV-positive men

“…Life-threatening physical illnesses are associated with increased suicide risk (Pugh et al, 1993;Kurella et al, 2005). Future research among men who have been positively diagnosed with HIV should utilize more comprehensive measures to assess the frequency, severity, duration and context of suicidal behaviours.…”

Social Support and Maladaptive Coping as Predictors of the Change in Physical Health Symptoms among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

“…Some of this variation has been attributed to disparity in access to, or failure to adhere to use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 1 while other research demonstrates a burgeoning body of evidence suggesting that psychosocial factors affect illness progression in HIV/AIDS. Such factors may include: physical condition and functional status such as number of physical health symptoms, physical decline, sleep disturbance, and disease progression [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] ; psychological functioning that includes previous history of psychological illness, substance abuse, or both [8][9][10][11] ; life event stressors [12][13] ; social support and psychological coping 7,14 ; socioeconomic status 2,15 ; and exercise. 16 As people living with HIV thrive as a result of advancements in medication, the link between social support and chronic illness becomes more salient.…”