Psychosocial and neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV infection: review of their extent and implications for psychiatry.

HIV infection in general and AIDS in particular, present a major challenge for the health services worldwide. The possibility of central nervous system effects of HIV infection has been known for some time, and information is now accumulating about the range of psychiatric disorders associated with it. This paper considers in detail the psychosocial and neuropsychiatric problems which can develop at the various stages of HIV infection, and discusses the implications for the mental health services in terms of provision of services, legal and ethical problems, and further research.