Psychiatric aspects of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and sexually transmitted disease (STD): an overview.

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the psychiatric aspects of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and sexually transmitted disease (STD) under the following subheadings: AIDS-related complex, AIDS hypochondriasis, AIDS dementia complex, AIDS and increased risk of suicide, psychiatric aspects of STD, and implications for the management of patients. The psychiatric aspects of HIV infection and AIDS include problems of adjustment to a diagnosis with a stigma and the threat of death, reactive depression and potential risk of suicide, personality disorder, AIDS-related complex (ARC), and AIDS-related dementia. The paper gives an overview of clinical, neuropathological and psychopathological experience in other countries with relevant examples from Papua New Guinea if available. STDs are mentioned because HIV transmission in Papua New Guinea is mostly by heterosexual means. The paper concludes by emphasizing the psychiatric principles of management of HIV-infected/AIDS/STD patients, which include pharmacotherapy but are always based on supportive psychotherapy and counselling.