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Psychiatric and Psychosocial Correlates of Sexual Risk Behavior among Adults with Severe Mental Illness

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Abstract

Persons with severe mental illness (SMI) are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This study examined multivariate correlates of sexual risk among 152 adults with SMI receiving outpatient psychiatric treatment. Structured interviews assessed psychiatric, psychosocial, and behavioral risk factors. The majority was sexually active (65%), and many reported unprotected intercourse (73%), multiple partners (45%), and sex trading (21%) in the past year. Logistic regression models found that sexual behaviors were differentially associated with non-psychotic disorder, psychiatric symptoms, substance abuse, childhood sexual abuse, romantic partnership, and social support (all ps < .05). Findings underscore the need for targeted HIV prevention interventions that address psychiatric and psychosocial risk factors.

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Acknowledgments

Support for this study came from NIMH grant, HIV Risk Among Adults With Mental Illness (F31-MH067370), awarded to Christina Meade. This paper was presented at the 39th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. The authors would like to thank Drs. Kelly Brownell, Nathan Hansen, Jeannette Ickovics, Trace Kershaw, Peter Salovey, and Teresa Treat for comments on an earlier version of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478-9106, USA

    Christina S. Meade Ph.D.

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Kathleen J. Sikkema Ph.D.

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  1. Christina S. Meade Ph.D.
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  2. Kathleen J. Sikkema Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Christina S. Meade Ph.D..

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Christina S. Meade is a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.

Kathleen J. Sikkema is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT.

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Meade, C.S., Sikkema, K.J. Psychiatric and Psychosocial Correlates of Sexual Risk Behavior among Adults with Severe Mental Illness. Community Ment Health J 43, 153–169 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-006-9071-6

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