HIV and AIDS among the severely mentally ill: introduction to the special series.

Men and women who have a severe and persistent mental illness are vulnerable to infection with HIV. Recognition of this vulnerability led the Office of AIDS at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to invite leading practitioners, researchers, consumer advocates, and policy makers to a National Conference on HIV and AIDS among the Severely Mentally Ill. This article describes the proceedings of the Conference, and provides an overview of the resulting summary reports that comprise this special issue.