Drug abuse and psychiatric findings in HIV-seropositive pregnant patients.

In a sample of 55 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive pregnant patients, a history of drug abuse was significantly associated with increased psychopathology, particularly depression and personality disorders. Psychiatric disorders preceded the HIV diagnosis in most of the patients studied. Intravenous drug abuse was also associated with increased prostitution, incarceration, and previous suicide attempts. Psychiatric findings were influenced much less by the HIV diagnosis and much more by the presence or absence of a history of drug abuse.