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Primary and Secondary HIV Prevention Among Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Recent Findings

  • Behavioral-Bio-Medical Interface (JL Brown and RJ DiClemente, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Persons with severe mental illness (SMI) have been disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, with higher rates of HIV prevalence and morbidity than the general population. Recent research has advanced our understanding of the complex factors that influence primary and secondary HIV prevention for those with SMI. Sex risk in this population is associated with socioeconomic factors (e.g., low income, history of verbal violence) and other health risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, no prior HIV testing). Several interventions are effective at reducing risk behavior, and reviews highlight the need for more well-controlled studies that assess long-term outcomes. Recent research has elucidated barriers that interfere with HIV treatment for SMI populations, including individual (e.g., apathy, substance use), social (e.g., stigma), and system factors (e.g., transportation, clinic wait times). Interventions that coordinate HIV care for individuals with SMI show promise as cost-effective methods for improving medication adherence and quality of life.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants K23-DA028660, T32-AI007392, and F32-DA038519 from the United States National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 90519, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Andréa L. Hobkirk, Sheri L. Towe & Christina S. Meade

  2. Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, Trent Hall, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Ryan Lion & Christina S. Meade

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  1. Andréa L. Hobkirk
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  2. Sheri L. Towe
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  3. Ryan Lion
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  4. Christina S. Meade
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Correspondence to Christina S. Meade.

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Dr. Hobkirk, Dr. Towe, Mr. Lion, and Dr. Meade declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Behavioral-Bio-Medical Interface

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Hobkirk, A.L., Towe, S.L., Lion, R. et al. Primary and Secondary HIV Prevention Among Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Recent Findings. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 12, 406–412 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-015-0294-4

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