Mental health, HIV and AIDS: a review of the literature.

HIV/AIDS is one of the major issues to be faced by the mental health care sector over the next decade. Many mentally ill people already have or will become infected with HIV due to a range of factors including lack of information and poor risk prevention skills. Others without a previous history of mental illness will develop mental health problems because of the effects of HIV on the CNS. Most people with HIV/AIDS will also experience severe depression and anxiety related to their infection while others will develop AIDS related dementia. HIV/AIDS related training is necessary for mental health professionals so that people with HIV/AIDS are given high quality non-discriminatory care. The need for further research in the area of HIV/AIDS and mental health is also discussed.